TEXT OF A PRESS BRIEFING BY THE PRESIDENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (PSN) PHARM. AZUBIKE OKWOR,FPSN,FPCPHARM,FFIP, ON THE UNFORTUNATE MURDER OF CYNTHIA OSOKOGU HELD AT THE PHARMACY HOUSE, ANTHONY VILLAGE, LAGOS

PROTOCOL
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) joins millions of Nigerians to empathize with the family of the late Cynthia Osokogu who was lured by friends she met on facebook to Lagos where she was brutalized and eventually killed.

We also commend the Nigeria Police for the professional investigation that led to the arrest of the two young men who admitted openly to have committed the heinous crime.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is interested in a diligent and focused investigation of this murder which continues to attract so much interest from Nigerians to the extent that all found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law, while innocent people are not unjustly arraigned, prosecuted and punished.

We note with concern the arraignment of two young Pharmacists who were charged along with the confessed suspects for rape, armed robbery, murder and administering of obnoxious substances. These are weighty charges that reflect the gravity of the offences that led to the death of this promising lady. We at Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) indeed perceive this loss as a great one to the Osokogus, friends, colleagues and all Nigerians.

The PSN after a critical appraisal of all issues at stake wishes to reflect thus:
b. The second Pharmacists, Pharm. Osita Orji is a Locum Pharmacist with Oxpharm and works evening shifts. The police visited Oxpharm on 21 August 2012 and requested to see Osita. When he got to the station, they alleged that he was the Pharmacist on duty when the suspected killer of Cynthia claimed they bought Rohypnol from Oxpharm. Osita made statement that he did not know the murderers, could not recall meeting them or selling Rohypnol to them and if they ever bought the Rohypnol from him while on duty that they must have presented him with a prescription. Osita was detained in Festac Police Area Command for two (2) days, then transferred to Panti from where he was taken to a Magistrate Court and charged

2) If the liability of the two pharmacists is limited to the sales or alleged sales of rohypnol to clients they do not know and never collaborated with in this condemnable crime then it is logical to believe that at best there might have been breaches of professional ethics. The law provides that such matters are dealt with by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria a regulatory agency of the Federal Government established by Cap. P.17 LFN 2004.


3) The drug in question Rohypnol is an intermediate acting benzodiazepam similar to diazepam (valium), nitrazepam (swidon) and bromazepam (lexotan).

Rohypnol is the brand name of the medicine flunitrazepam and is one of the benzodiazepine class of sedatives or tranquilizer drugs, of which valium or diazepam is perhaps the best known. It is used in the management of anxiety and sleep disorders (short term treatment of insomnia).

Rohypnol is made by Roche in Switzerland, registered with NAFDAC (Reg. No: 04 – 0150) and distributed in Nigeria by Swipha Nigeria Ltd. It is not a rare drug as being reported. It is available in Nigeria.
4) The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) counsels Nigerians to monitor the use of internet facilities by youths and children particularly because of volume and nature of information available.

5) We urge the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice in Lagos State to immediately review the cases of these pharmacists with a view to advising the relevant authorities on how best to tackle this matter and to ensure that the innocent is not persecuted albeit unjustly.

CONCLUSION
Gentlemen of the Press, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) assures Nigerians that it will continue to work with stakeholders including relevant regulatory agencies to evolve a National Strategy that will improve the use of medicines in Nigeria. In line with this, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has dedicated September 25, 2012 to continue the dialogue on safe medicines by collaborating with the National Human Rights Commission, Regulatory Agencies, Media and other stakeholders.

One of the salient lessons inherent in the discourse is that our youth while trusting must verify the relationship they make through the social media given the abuse potential.

Once again, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the entire Osokogu family. We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear this loss.

Thank you.

Azubike Okwor FPSN,FPCPHARM,FFIP
President
August 30, 2012

The Nonso made a BIG mistake.

In professional ethics, Can a doctor inject his/her sick patient begging to be killed with lethal poison ?

Hello ‎​ friends,my name is Ifeyinwa Maduakor Nwaka. I know how some of us feel about broadcasts,but please,read this one .I am sure that most of us are familiar with the story of Cynthia who was murdered by her facebook friends on the 21st of July. On the 20th of August,(ONE MONTH LATER) a policeman in mufti walked into Oxpharm pharmacy where my nephew,chukwunonso Maduakor worked as an intern. He asked for the drug Rohypnol flunitrazepam and Chukwunonso demanded for a doctor's prescription but the man pleaded with him on the grounds that he had an accident. And needed the drug to be able to sleep. Nonso said he felt that d man,who looked clean and responsible,didn't look like someone who would abuse the drug and thus,sold it to him. Suddenly, plain clothed policemen swooped on him,manhandled him and went away with him to festac police satation. He was thereafter arraigned in court alongside his colleague,Osita, who the police accused of selling the drug to the murders of Cynthia. Nonso was on Monday paraded as one of the killers of Cynthia alongside the known murderers. I ask,is that justice? Nonso,the best graduating student of pharmacy dept of Igbinedion university,2011, Nonso,president of Pharmacy students Fellowship,in his time and a youth pastor of the redeemed Christian Church of God should not be subjected to this horror. Please rebroadcast this to salvage the future of this young man who is being held unjustly at the Ikoyi prison. If there is anything u can do to help us,please,call me on 08023275269.

If this account is actually true, It should be taken to the National Assembly,NLC,Human Right groups etc. He'll certainly get their support& assistance.

KDULAR:
I AM INFORMING YOU THAT THERE EVEN IN THE DDA ( DANGEROUS DRUG ACT IN NIGERIA ) THIS PARTICULAR DRUG DOES NOT REQUIRE A MEDICAL DOCTORS PRESCRIPTION BEFORE YOU CAN DISPENSE. THE TRUTH IS WE GENERALISE ALL DRUGS DUE TO WHAT WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE BUT I AM TELLING YOU WITH ALL CONFIDENCE THAT THE GUY DID NOT ERR IN ANYWAY , HOWEVER, BEING AN INTERN, HE' SUPPOSSED TO BE UNDER SOMEONE ELSE' SUPERVISION. AND THAT IS A MINOR ISSUE PROFESSIONALLY AND THE PUNISHMENT IS NOT REALLY ON HIM . BUT IN THIS CASE A CASE WILL BE EASILY WON BY THE PHARMACIST AND THE PHARMACY . JUST WATCH. THE POLICE WILL BE DISGRACED IN THIS . THEY REALLY FEAST ON PEOPLES FEAR AND IGNORANCE.WHICH A LOT OF US ARE PERPETRATING EVEN ON THIS TOPIC. I NEED SOMEONE TO STATE ME AN AUTHORITY THAT'LL PROVE ME WRONG. CHIKENA

The difference between a clinician and a pharmacist is clear. What is the motivation in dispensing a sedative to a patient you cannot monitor. Think my brother.

I remember an accident at victory drugs also in Festac where a 'patient' wanted a particular drug but the pharmacist refused becos it is a controlled drugs,despite appeals by even other customers including my humble self. I was angry with the pharmacist becos it was late ...around 8.30pm.. How can the 'patient' get doctor's prescription at that time.? And to cap it all, we were locked out like prisoner! I was angry and stopped patronising victory drug using oxpharm instead. But now, I know better! I pray the good Lord sees Nonso through in this ordeal. He has attended to me several times, and I see him as an intelligent person who has a kind of dedication that we hardly see among the youth of today. I hope he is just punished for his mistake.

kinguwem: The difference between a clinician and a pharmacist is clear. What is the motivation in dispensing a sedative to a patient you cannot monitor. Think my brother.

yes,the clinician is trained to major in minor things,its like majoring or specialising in one class of drugs in pharmacy or what would you call a nephrologist who claims to be a clinician even though you have read severally that the youngman is an intern pharmacist,yet you chose to be cynical.in case you have forgotten,a registered pharmacist could have managed it better by counselling and dispensing only the quantity he can use for that night and asks him to see him the next day for follow-up,he does not need a clinician to do that because he is aware that unless he keeps the guy close,the guy would go elsewhere for the drug.keep embelishing your ignorance and mischief,dont worry the next time it will be you or people from your side for the police.very soon all those illegally stocking drugs in their mushroom clinics without the supervision of a registered pharmacist will soon find out.

it will be funny to make a publicity stunt to suggest that the doctor is a boss or superior to the pharmacists,the doctor is not the boss to a pharmacist,it is only a pharmacist that can be a boss to another pharmacist.The hospital pharmacist is there for the patients sake and his job include putting the doctor in check,tomorrow,he could leave hospital and go to the industry.wherein a doctor cant synthesize or identify the simplest of aspirin whereas the pharmacist dont only synthesize these drugs,he is extremely knowledgeable about pathophysiology of diseases,their management and evaluation and can do without a doctor but can the doctor do without a pharmacist?if he does not admit requiring his presence to help him,he cant deny how his professional success depends almost entirely ob products produced by pharmacists,infact,pharmacists keep the doctor in business by educating them on drugs and medicine from time to time,it is ungrateful to bite the hands feeding you in business,where pharmacists and doctors in other climes are always collaborating to improve the lot of their citizens,in Nigeria,the doctor is in constant battle/rivalry with the pharmacist.most of those doctors hiding behind online annonymity and twisting the case as if the need for prescription for controlled substance is to show authority of a doctor over the professional judgement of a pharmacist are the hungry ones among them.If you have any problem at all,see a pharmacist,he would help you and his help may include refering you to any other member of the healthcare team,not only doctors abeg dont allow some half-baked doctor confuse you abeg.

because he is aware that unless he keeps the guy close,the guy would go elsewhere for the drug

and something is wrong with that?

you dont really seem very informed.



did you read this:

I remember an accident at victory drugs also in Festac where a 'patient' wanted a particular drug but the pharmacist refused becos it is a controlled drugs,despite appeals by even other customers including my humble self. I was angry with the pharmacist becos it was late ...around 8.30pm.. How can the 'patient' get doctor's prescription at that time.? And to cap it all, we were locked out like prisoner! I was angry and stopped patronising victory drug using oxpharm instead.

and did you get anything from it.

seems everyone is using oxpharm because they are nice!!!

^^ clearly,you are the one who dont understand.if the person is a genuine patient or having dependence syndrome,he would get that same drug elsewhere and the intervention of the pharmacist would not have helped.Based on the interaction an experienced pharmacist would have with the patient,he would have evaluated the patient and intervene professionally,intervention include identifying the reasons why he needs the drug,if it is insomnia,appropriate education on the various causes of insomnia such as depression,parkinson,alzheimers disease etc could help the patient to appreciate the need to go to the hospital for further evaluation,the pharmacist is not only trained in pharmacotherapy,even counselling on the complaints could help the patient seek orthodox solution,some would leave your presence and head to spiritual homes!!


As per oxpharm,I wont speak for their operations,clearly,there is no pharmacist that would keep maintaining regular supply of such drugs to an individual patient.Dont confuse sales attendant for pharmacists,intern pharmacists should be supervised as required.I think most pharmacies should insist that their pharmacists should always be professionally adorned even whough they want to save the clients of that dreadful image of a man in white.

^^ clearly,you are the one who dont understand.if the person is a genuine patient or having dependence syndrome,he would get that same drug elsewhere and the intervention of the pharmacist would not have helped.Based on the interaction an experienced pharmacist would have with the patient,he would have evaluated the patient and intervene professionally,intervention include identifying the reasons why he needs the drug,if it is insomnia,appropriate education on the various causes of insomnia such as depression,parkinson,alzheimers disease etc could help the patient to appreciate the need to go to the hospital for further evaluation,the pharmacist is not only trained in pharmacotherapy,even counselling on the complaints could help the patient seek orthodox solution,some would leave your presence and head to spiritual homes!!


As per oxpharm,I wont speak for their operations,clearly,there is no pharmacist that would keep maintaining regular supply of such drugs to an individual patient.Dont confuse sales attendant for pharmacists,intern pharmacists should be supervised as required.I think most pharmacies should insist that their pharmacists should always be professionally adorned even whough they want to save the clients of that dreadful image of a man in white.

Itk is your problem.


As for somebody heading to spiritualist - that's their prerogative and not the pharmacist's job to prevent them from going.

The most he or she can do is give advice.

tpia@:
Itk is your problem.


As for somebody heading to spiritualist - that's their prerogative and not the pharmacist's job to prevent them from going.

The most he or she can do is give advice.

Who says the job of a pharmacist is to prevent anybody from going to spiritual homes,even the pharmacist training,unlike other members of the healthcare team,recognises the role of spiritual beliefs in therapy,it is done in pharmocognosy.final decision to accept or reject professional advice is the prerogative of clients in any human professional calling let alone pharmacy practise.my dear,we are not talking of machines,we are talking about human beings with their freewill.A better informed patient is always easy to manage,all I am saying is that you should be informed that you have the right to quality and professional service of a pharmacist and should insist on it if the need arises and I enjoin pharmacists in the house to always give their best to their patients.clearly you are a joke,abeg carry your NFA go.

tpia@:
Itk is your problem.

True talk!!

I am not too sure if the president of the PSN is talking on behalf of the PSN, but me-thinks he is talking all by himself out of tribal reasons. He should not forget that Udoka Cynthia is also Igbo, violently raped and brutally murdered by fellow Igbos, and for him as the President of the PSN to come out here and tell us that these 2 pharmacists that are accessories to the rape and murder of this innocent girl should be set free is an insult beyond measure.
In the US, Rohypnol is not approved for use, so I wonder why the PSN should not question why it has been approved in Nigeria. It's known worldwide as "Rape Drug". It's a drug that should have been sold with a prescription from a Doctor and these pharmacists broke the law. I know for sure in the US and other countries that you go to jail for selling or even using prescription drugs illegitimately.
I am sorry to say, this is not a case of professional misconduct that PSN will handle with a small fine or a slap on the wrists to the pharmacists. The 2 pharmacists committed a crime by selling prescription drugs without prescription, a crime that has now made them accessories to murder.
These criminals masquerading as pharmacists must therefore pay the full penalty for being accomplishes to the brutal rape and violent murder of this naive young Igbo girl.

mobillon: I am not too sure if the president of the PSN is talking on behalf of the PSN, but me-thinks he is talking all by himself out of tribal reasons. He should not forget that Udoka Cynthia is also Igbo, violently raped and brutally murdered by fellow Igbos, and for him as the President of the PSN to come out here and tell us that these 2 pharmacists that are accessories to the rape and murder of this innocent girl should be set free is an insult beyond measure.
In the US, Rohypnol is not approved for use, so I wonder why the PSN should not question why it has been approved in Nigeria. It's known worldwide as "Rape Drug". It's a drug that should have been sold with a prescription from a Doctor and these pharmacists broke the law. I know for sure in the US and other countries that you go to jail for selling or even using prescription drugs illegitimately.
I am sorry to say, this is not a case of professional misconduct that PSN will handle with a small fine or a slap on the wrists to the pharmacists. The 2 pharmacists committed a crime by selling prescription drugs without prescription, a crime that has now made them accessories to murder.
These criminals masquerading as pharmacists must therefore pay the full penalty for being accomplishes to the brutal rape and violent murder of this naive young Igbo girl.

Bros u too harsh.... How sure are you this this phamarcist actually sold the rophynol drug to the criminals who killed cynthia?