The Edo State Consumer Protection Committee has announced the arrest of the owner of Denewman Pharmacy along New Lagos Road, near New Benin Market in Benin City, following an enforcement operation during which it alleged that fake drugs and medications were discovered.
The operation, which took place on Friday, November 13, 2026, is the latest in a series of enforcement activities by the committee targeting businesses suspected of selling counterfeit, adulterated and expired products across Edo State.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Mr Iyamu Osaro Culture, the committee said the operation followed an intelligence report received by its team while returning from an earlier enforcement exercise along Ekenwan Road, where it conducted water testing.
According to the chairman, the team immediately proceeded to Denewman Pharmacy on New Lagos Road to investigate the intelligence report.
On arrival, the committee said its chairman requested to see the owner of the pharmacy. The individual who reportedly identified himself as the owner allegedly informed the officials that his association had instructed him not to grant the committee access to the premises.
The chairman described the response as unacceptable and said he subsequently ordered the team to enforce compliance, leading to an inspection of the pharmacy.
The committee claimed that the inspection resulted in the discovery of suspected fake drugs and medications. It said the affected products were confiscated and the pharmacy owner was arrested.
The chairman further disclosed that the owner was being held in police custody as of the time the statement was issued.
However, the committee did not identify the specific medicines allegedly recovered, disclose their manufacturers or registration details, state the quantities seized, or provide the results of any laboratory examination or independent regulatory verification confirming that the products were counterfeit.
The development comes amid an escalating disagreement between the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Edo State Chapter, over the committee’s enforcement activities at pharmacy premises.
The PSN had recently demanded an immediate suspension of the committee’s pharmacy raids, the release of detained pharmacists and the refund of monies allegedly collected from practitioners without a valid legal basis.
At a press briefing in Benin City, the professional body, led by its Edo State chairman, Dr Chris Oisakede, challenged the committee to publish the legal instrument establishing it, its terms of reference and the specific statutory provisions authorising it to inspect pharmacies, seize pharmaceutical products, seal facilities and impose fines.
The pharmacists also called on Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, to intervene in the dispute.
The committee’s latest operation at Denewman Pharmacy is therefore likely to intensify the disagreement, particularly over the authority and procedures guiding enforcement activities within the pharmaceutical sector.
Under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is responsible for regulating pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical premises. Sections 31 and 32 provide for the appointment of licensed pharmacists as Pharmaceutical Inspection Officers and outline their powers to inspect and seal premises where violations of the Act are established. The Council’s pharmaceutical premises regulations also provide for enforcement actions, including the seizure of certain unauthorised medicines.
The Edo committee, however, has previously defended its operations by citing provisions of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, arguing that it has powers to intervene where there are reasonable grounds to suspect violations involving fake or adulterated products.
The competing positions have made clarification of the committee’s statutory mandate, the involvement of relevant federal regulators and the procedures used to establish suspected counterfeit medicines central to the ongoing controversy.
In his statement, Iyamu said the committee remained committed to protecting consumers’ health, safeguarding their rights and ensuring fair business practices across the state in line with Governor Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.
As of the time of filing this report, no independent statement from Denewman Pharmacy, its owner, the PSN or the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria specifically addressing the latest operation had been established.
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