The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that it welcomes any information or evidence of any activities or actions that can assist in ensuring obedience of the law with respect in this regard, or retribution for disobedience in the case between FGN v. Dr. Anu Adepoju & Medcontour.
Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Barr. Babatunde Irukera said this in a statement on Thursday.
TheFact Nigeria gathered that the Commission had shut down and instituted a law suit against Dr. Anu Adepoju & Medcontour in year 2020, following botched surgeries on some women, particularly on a former beauty queen, Ms Miriam Nneka Onwuzuligbo who later died from complications and a public outcry on the safety of Dr. Anu’s procedures.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission thereafter, moved swiftly and shut Dr. Anu’s clinic, Med Contour and began prosecution of the defendant which was led by FCCPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Barr. Babatunde Irukera.
The Defendant was arrested and charged to Court under criminal charges of failure to comply with FCCPC’s requirements in an investigation; appear and provide information relevant to ongoing investigation. Although the defendant objected to the charge and taking a plea, a preliminary objection was argued and the Court ruled that the objection lacked merit.
Barr. Irukera’s statement said: “On October 14, 2020, after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) led by Babatunde Irukera as Lead Prosecutor closed its case upon examination and cross examination of the Commission’s witnesses, the defendant – Anuoluwapo Funmilayo Adepoju (Anuoluwapo Adepoju) through defense counsel filed a “No Case Submission claiming that the prosecution has not made a sufficiently answerable prima facie case for the defendant to defend.
“Upon adoption and argument of the parties’ respective briefs and positions, the Court reserved the case for a Decision and Ruling.
“Today, April 7, 2022 and seating in Lagos, the Federal High Court entered its decision and ruled rejecting the Defendant’s No Case Submission. Specifically, the Court ruled that the evidence so far propounded, presented and articulated by the Prosecution, and admitted by the Court satisfy the elements of the criminal charges pending against Anuoluwapo Adepoju. As such, a prima facie case had been established which requires appropriate defense.”
He said the Court adjourned the case to May 26th for continuation of trial.
Irukera said that although this judicial process has experienced significant delays, during which allegations and or evidence of isolated or continuing violations of extant regulatory decisions or judicial conditions have arisen, the Commission remains committed to ensuring compliance to the fullest extent of the law.
He said that as the Court has now returned to seating in, and adjudicating this case, relevant applications seeking appropriate judicial orders to ensure or compel compliance with applicable regulatory interventions or release conditions by the Court will proceed from the Commission.
