By Bunmi Yekini
The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, has reaffirmed the conviction and sentencing of Osinilu Dongo Tayo, a pharmacy technician found guilty of operating an unregistered medicine store in Ogun State.
Tayo, a member of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTTON), was initially convicted by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on a five-count charge and sentenced to five years in prison without the option of a fine. He was also fined ₦10,000, with a six-month additional sentence if he failed to pay.
The case dates back to May 2019, when a Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) enforcement team discovered that Tayo had heavily stocked his medicine shop, Stayildosh Pharmacy, in Ijebu-Ode with all categories of drugs without proper registration and licensing from the regulatory body.
When confronted, Tayo argued that, as a pharmacy technician, he was not under PCN’s regulatory control. However, the Federal High Court rejected this defense, ruling that the prosecution had proven all charges against him.
Tayo appealed the judgment, but the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision, dismissing his claims.
“The conviction and sentencing of the appellant stand,” the appellate court ruled. “The pharmacy premises shall remain sealed until full compliance with regulatory requirements is met.”
Legal experts say the ruling reinforces PCN’s authority over pharmaceutical practices in Nigeria.
“This judgment sends a clear message that regulatory laws governing pharmaceuticals must be obeyed,” said a legal practitioner who followed the case.
The forfeited drugs from Tayo’s shop will now be handed over to the Federal Government, as per the court’s ruling.