Peter Otuome, a 42-year-old Awka resident, was sentenced to two-years in prison after he was convicted of the illegal production of some 200,000 fake injection valves.

A Federal High Court sitting in Awka sentenced the accused on 13 July 2012, years after his arrest in 2007.

Otuome was arrested after a raid on his premises by security operatives and agents of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

He was said to have used his house for his illicit production.

The presiding judge in the case, Justice Peter Olayiwola, ruled that Otuome forfeit his fake medical stock and described it as sad that many Nigerians in need of urgent health care fall victims to criminals like Otuome who keep substandard drugs and fake treatment in circulation.

He said it was for this reason that other countries have enforced much sterner punishments for drug counterfeiters.

Earlier this year, the United States Senate backed a bill, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act, that will introduce stiffer penalties for drug counterfeiters. They do so in an effort to clean up the drug industry, which the presiding judge in Awka feels is vital in Nigeria.

NAFDAC deputy director in charge of legal services, Mr Kingsley Ejiofor, haild this judgement and said he hoped it would serve as a deterrent to others in the field. However, a two year jail term might not be deterrent enough for criminals who stand to make huge amounts in the counterfeit drug trade.

Counsel for the accused, Mr. Emmanuel Obidinma, plans to appeal the sentencing, saying that with the case presented, “the judge should not have sent my client to jail”.