By Olaide Ajibola, JKNMedia Reporter
A MEDICAL Doctor and founder of MedContour Services Ltd, Dr. Anuoluwapo Adepoju, has been convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos for her role in a botched plastic surgery that resulted in the death of Nneka Onwuzuligbo in 2020.
Babatunde Irukera, the former Director-General of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), announced the conviction via his official social media account.
Irukera, who prosecuted the case himself, highlighted the importance of this verdict in promoting accountability among professionals.
“This is a day of pride for me,” Irukera stated. “Personally prosecuting Anu Adepoju and her medical practice to a conviction reinforces the accountability framework for all in society, professionals or otherwise. This is how society should work and grow.”
The FCCPC had charged Adepoju with five counts, all of which resulted in a guilty verdict. Irukera emphasized the significance of diligent law enforcement and the necessity of seeing justice through, despite the slow pace of legal proceedings.
“Dr. Anu Adepoju and her medical practice were convicted on all five counts charged by the FCCPC. The wheel of justice may grind slowly, but it must be pursued with audacity and competence,” he added.
Justice Mohammed Liman presided over the court proceedings and handed down the guilty verdict. Despite the severity of the charges, Adepoju was given the option of paying a N100,000 fine instead of serving a jail term.
Onwuzuligbo, a beauty queen and face of Democracy Transformation in Nigeria, died in 2018 during a body enhancement surgery performed by Adepoju. The incident sparked widespread outrage across the country, prompting the FCCPC to investigate Adepoju for potential illegal activities.
Following the death of her patient, Adepoju evaded the FCCPC’s investigation and ignored multiple court summons. She continued to perform surgeries and advertised her services on social media, leading to her indefinite suspension by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) also raised concerns about Adepoju’s qualifications. LUTH claimed she presented herself as a cosmetic surgeon without completing the necessary residency training or being registered by the MDCN. The hospital demanded that the Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Investigation Panel examine her for alleged professional misconduct.
In 2020, FCCPC announced Adepoju’s arrest and arraignment. She faced charges of failing to comply with a regulatory summons, among other allegations. Despite the challenges in bringing her to justice, the conviction marks a significant step towards ensuring professional accountability in Nigeria’s medical sector.
