Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, a Lagos-based cosmetic surgeon, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, for allegedly obstructing the investigation into the death of a client of hers.
The defendant, popularly known as Dr Anu, was arraigned alongside her hospital, Med Contour Services Limited, by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Friday.
The FCCPC has been investigating Dr Anu after it received complaints from three members of the public, with one of the petitioners alleging that her hospital’s practice led to the death of one Nneka Onwuzuligbo.
A five-count charge was slammed against the defendants for failing to comply with the requirements of the commission to appear and provide information with regards to the ongoing information against them.
In a six-paragraph affidavit of completion of investigation attached to the charge sheet, the commission said it received complaints against Adepoju from one Marlene Oluwakemi, Taiwo Temilade and Vivian Onwuzuligbo that the surgeon’s services “are unsafe for consumers,” and that she made “false, misleading and deceptive representation in relation to the marketing of their services”.
It read: “In particular, the above-mentioned Vivian Onwuzuligbo, a member of the Mrs Nnneka Miriam Barbara Onwuzuligbo (now deceased) alleged that the deceased died as a result of the failed defendants’ cosmetic surgery and she is privy to the events that led to the demise of the deceased.”
Babatunde Irukera, prosecuting counsel for the FCCPC, said the incidents happened between April 15 and May 4, 2020, at No. 11a Ladi Alakija Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Irukera, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, said Adepoju acted contrary to sections 33(3)(a) and 113(4)(a) of the FCCPC Act 2018 and was liable to be punished under sections 33(3) and 113(1) of the same Act, among others.
The defendants objected to both the charge and taking a plea.
The court, however, ruled that the objection had no merit.
Justice Mohammed Liman, the presiding judge, admitted Dr Anu to bail on self-recognisance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He adjourned till July 9 for the commencement of trial.
