Posted by By OMODELE ADIGUN and FEMI OSU on
Two men, Messrs Victor Chijoke and Ifeanyi Omenka , nabbed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for faking injection and water for injection have been singing different tunes on how they ventured into the killer business, claiming that they didn't know that their products were deadly.
Two men, Messrs Victor Chijoke and Ifeanyi Omenka , nabbed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for faking injection and water for injection have been singing different tunes on how they ventured into the killer business, claiming that they didn't know that their products were deadly.
According to the Agency's Director of Enforcement, Mr Dioka Ejionueme, Chijoke was caught in August when his factory, Biochemical Industries Limited, Onitsha, Anambra State was raided and hundreds of thousands of fake water for injection were removed.
"A clear indication that he and his workers (most of whom were young girls) were fully aware of the illegality of what they were doing was that all the rooms in which the workers were operating were locked from outside with padlocks to give the deceptive impression that there was nobody inside.
"The factory, Victory Biochemical Industries Ltd, Awada, Onitsha is located in an address variously described as 11, Dayspring Avenue, Awada, Onitsha and 3 Austino Egolu Close, Awada, Onitsha.
"The results of the laboratory analysis revealed that the water for injection is not sterile and it also contained pyrogens. The serious implications of using such water for injection , among other things, include the deterioration of the condition of an already sick person by introducing pathogens and multiple infections into the body."
Defending himself, Chijioke stated that he got attracted to the business because a friend convinced him that faking the intravenous fluid was the in-thing and a money spinner if he ever wished to get rich quickly.
"It was early last year that one of my friends introduced me to this business," he said, "telling me that the water for injection is making waves in the market. I had the factory already before that time. So, I only needed to upgrade the facilities there. This I did by equipping the factory with other equipment. I met the Director of NAFDAC in Onitsha for registration .He told me that I had to go and register with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Then I met the Council at Awka, I was told that I had to hire a pharmacist . I had one that I was paying and later I started the production when I got filling and sealing machine. One officer told me the machine had to be refurbished but then I had produced these ones for sale so that I could pay for the refurbishment, get money for staff salary and pay off some debt. "
Asked whether he knew that what he churned out for public consumption was nothing but poison, Chijoke shook his head.
The second culprit, Ifeanyi Omenka , was apprehended by the agency for producing and distributing fake Fortuin (Pentazocin injection) a controlled narcotic analgesic. In his statement to NAFDAC, Ifeanyi claimed that he changed the labels of Oxytocin and Adrelanine injections to Fortuin. During the raid by the regulatory agency, which was facilitated by the executive of the Medicine Dealers Association, Idumota, Lagos, packets of already faked Pentazocine were recovered. Also recovered were packets of Oxytocin and Adrenanline injections as well as labels of Pentazocine.
Ejionueme explained : "Fortuin(Pentazocine) is a controlled narcotic analgesic. It is used to relieve pain in traumatic post- operatives, post-partum patients and control of pains in terminal illness like cancer. It is to be cautiously used in patients with heart failure, arterial/pulmonary hypertension.
"Adrenaline is used in emergency to elevate blood pressure, especially in spinal anaesthesia. It increases both heart rate and its contractility. Because of its effects, it has always been recommended that it be used with caution in diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other heart diseases.
"Oxytocin is used in gynaecology to induce labour during childbirth. High doses in pregnant women may cause fatal distress, asphyxia and death. It can also induce hypertension and heart diseases.
"The serious health implication of using either Adrenaline or Oxytocin or both at the same time in place of Pentazocine include possible miscarriage for pregnant women. When they are used together, the effect results in hypertension .In an already hypertensive situation, it may lead to hypertensive crisis and possibly death or organ failure. Meanwhile, efforts are on to apprehend the collaborators of Omenka in the faking of Fortuin.
Omenka said: " Honestly, I felt compelled to do it and I didn't know the medical implications. So, it is unfortunate .I didn't think it would lead to this. I was just a week in the business before I was caught. I went to Onitsha to recover debt owed me. The debtor is in this line of business and he was the one who introduced me into the business. His name is Monday. That was the person bringing all the packages. Monday stayed in Onitsha. I didn't know that the product can kill. When I was told the product is dangerous to human life, I was even the one that took police to my place to pack the remaining products."
But NAFDAC was not moved by his crocodile tears. According to Ejionueme, the likes of Omenka and Chijioke constitute dangers to society. "We at NAFDAC are determined to deal with them within the law," he stated