Judge’s absence stalls cosmetic surgeon’s trial over client’s death

Proceedings in the trial of a Lagos-based cosmetic surgeon, Dr Anuoluwapo Adepoju, whose services allegedly resulted in the death of one Mrs Nneka Onwuzuligbo, was stalled on Monday before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The matter, which was scheduled for adoption of final written addresses, could not go on due to the absence of Justice Mohammed Liman.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is prosecuting the surgeon, accused her of blocking investigation into customers’ complaints against her by allegedly shunning the agency’s summons and refusing to produce documents demanded from her.

The defendant, alongside her firm, MedContour Services Ltd., was arraigned in July 2020 on five counts bordering on refusal to honour an invitation for investigation into a post-body surgery complications, as well as production of investigation documents.

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The prosecuting counsel for the FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, told the court that it was a criminal offence for an industrial player to shun a summons by the commission, adding that the offence carries either a prison term or fine or both.

Irukera said Adepoju contravened 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.

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 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.”

Following the judge’s absence on Monday, the matter was adjourned till October 24.