The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has arraigned a cosmetic surgeon, Dr Anu Adepoju, over the death of her client, Nneka Onwuzuligbo, among other infractions.
Adepoju was arraigned on Friday alongside her firm, MedContour Services Ltd, before Justice Mohammed Liman at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The cosmetic surgeon, who was arrested on Wednesday, was arraigned for allegedly obstructing the investigation by the FCCPC into the case.
The FCCPC, in the five-count charge, accused the cosmetic surgeon of shunning summons by the agency to appear and produce certain documents.
In a six-paragraph affidavit of completion of investigation attached to the charge sheet, the commission said it received complaints against Adepoju from the following persons – 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 said, “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.”
Prosecutor Babatunde Irukera said the alleged incidents happened between April 15 and May 4, 2020, at No. 11a Ladi Alakija Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
According to him, 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 defendant, who claims to have been trained in Turkey, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Liman granted her bail on self-recognisance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and adjourned till July 9 for commencement of trial.
