The Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Pharm. Ahmed Babashehu and Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Oyo State Chapter, Pharm. Adegboyega Oguntoye, have revealed information at their disposal concerning the demise of the late Pharmacist Rasheed Ayinde.
While they exonerated the Council from his death, they said it is a mere coincidence that he died few days after the closure of his retail pharmacy by officials of the regulatory agency.
Reports from a news medium says Ayinde collapsed and died few days after his pharmaceutical store was sealed off by the officials of PCN in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pharmanewsonline on the development, the PCN Registrar, Babashehu, expressed sadness over the sudden death of the pharmacist, saying the Council was not briefed earlier whether the deceased had any health condition whatsoever.
He said “With respect to the pharmacist that died, it’s unfortunate it happened.
“The truth of the matter is that his premises was last registered since 2017, so he’s been in arrears for five years.
“And naturally, when a premises is closed, the owner has to come and explain reasons for delay in renewal of his pharmacy. Perhaps, he was involved in an accident or had any illness he was nursing, we wouldn’t know unless the state chapter had informed us of what was going on there.
“For a retail pharmacy like his, it costs only N5000 to register annually”, he said.
In his own contribution, PSN Chairman, Oyo State, Pharm. Oguntoye, narrated how he shared some moments with the deceased before his death, saying the environment at the PCN office was very conducive, which couldn’t have triggered any sudden death.
According to Oguntoye, “I was with him at PCN office few hours before his death, the environment at PCN was friendly and highly commended, and it’s quite unfortunate”
“We are in a meeting right now, will get back to you later”.
Babashehu also remarked on the reaction of Pharm. Opeyemi Akindele, on the closure of his premises by officials of the PCN, saying the pharmacist has an unregistered pharmacy, which explained why his pharmacy was sealed.
Akindele reportedly said he resisted the move because he has satisfied all the requirements to operate the pharmacy. He also alleged that the unidentified PCN official and the three armed NSCDC officials were on illegal duty, because they deliberately removed their name tag to carry out the assignment.
The Registrar disclosed thus :” Pharm. Opeyemi Akindele, is not new to us, he has more than one premises, and the other premises is not registered. He got a place and built another premises without approval.
“He is in serious confrontation with the PCN because the Council has told him that he cannot operate in that premises.
“He is also currently facing the PCN Investigative Panel, and he has also taken PCN to court. He is trying to take advantage of the social media to sensitise people on the development, though he never mentioned he is in court with PCN and never mentioned he is facing investigative panel.
“All these wouldn’t have come up if there are no issues. We are not going to go emotional about his case; of course, we will provide appropriate information to the public on his matter”.
This is a shame and a sham. Why must you blackmail the dead without even commenting on how unprofessional your staffs have been as pharmacists and pharmacy owners have generally complained.