Biochemistry graduate impersonates doctor, opens pharmacy

Ogbonna

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a jobless graduate of Biochemistry for allegedly operating a pharmacy as well as administering medical treatment to patients.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect, Kenneth Ogbonna, was arrested by policemen attached to the Area E Command, FESTAC.

According to police authorities, the suspect, who goes by the pseudonym, doctor, is a third-class graduate of Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

The police also alleged that the suspect ownedan illegal pharmacy at 4C, Marwa Road, Ijegun Market, Satellite Town.

It was learnt that trouble started for the suspect after lodging a sick friend in a hotel and was administering drugs and injections to him.

A senior police officer, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said, “The suspect was treating one Nelson Ibenezim. He had kept him (Ibenezim) in the hotel for about four days before he was finally arrested.

“At the hotel, we noticed that the victim was placed on drip. We also saw marks of needle on him which means the suspect had been injecting him with drugs.

“We then went to the pharmacy he operates where we discovered medical equipment even though the suspect is not a doctor. We learnt he treats people on a daily basis at that same hotel which he has been using for about three years now.

We are also interrogating some employees at the hotel because we have a strong feeling that they conspired with the suspect to carry out the illegitimate business.

But the suspect said he graduated with a third class from the university which had made it difficult for him to get a decent job.

He said, “I intended studying medicine at the university but when I did not get good grades, I was transferred to Biochemistry Department where I finished with a third class. I graduated in 2000 and when I could not make ends meet, I decided to open a pharmacy.

“The person that was found in the hotel is my friend. He had malaria and I was treating him. I know the appropriate drugs to use and there is no way I would have killed him.”

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the story but added that she had no details.