By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday December 2 adjourned the ongoing trial of a plastic Surgeon Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju to February 3, 2021 for hearing argument on the ‘no case submission’ she filed.
Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju is standing trial over alleged evasion from investigation into a failed plastic surgery.
She was charged by Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), alongside her Clinic, MedContour Services Ltd. on a five count charge bordering on ‘refusal to honour an invitation for investigation as well as production of investigation document.’
She was re-arraigned on July 17, alongside her Medical outfit, before Justice Mohammed Liman and had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on self recognizance.
At the last adjourned date, a prosecution witness, Mrs Suzzy Onwuka, concluded her evidence after narrating before the court how the Commission failed in its efforts to secure the presence of the defendant for investigation into the allegations.
The prosecution had closed its case after testimony of the witness while the court adjourned the case for defence to open trial.
When the case was called on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mr Abimbola Ojenike informed the court of a no case submission filed by the defence.
He however, sought for an adjournment to enable prosecution respond to same processes for argument.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Mrs Maria Jones informed the court that she had been informed by the defendant that some of the drugs in her clinic may soon expire. Consequently, she prayed the court to allow some of such drugs to be dispensed to instead of allowing them expire and lose value.
Following the request by the defence counsel, the court urged the prosecution and its team, to carry out a surveillance of the hospital to examine and determine drugs which are near expiration.
The court adjourned the case until February 3, 2021 for hearing of arguments on the no case submission of defence.
In the five counts charge brought against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that without sufficient cause, the first defendant failed to appear before the FCCPC in compliance with the Commission’s summons dated April 15.
The prosecution further alleged that without sufficient cause, the first defendant also refused and failed to produce document which she was required to produce in compliance with the Commission’s notice of investigation dated April 14.
Besides, Dr Adepoju was alleged to have prevented and obstructed the Commission from carrying out its investigation into the said issue.
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 11(1)(a), 33(1)(a), 110, 113(1)(a) and 159(4) of the FCCPC Act, 2018.