In a development that continues to captivate public attention, the Federal High Court in Lagos has reserved judgment in the case against surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju and her clinic, MedContour Services Ltd. The defendants are facing trial over alleged complications arising from a buttocks enlargement surgery.
The suit was brought against Adepoju by the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC) on a five-count charge, accusing her of refusing to honor an invitation for an investigation into post-body surgery complications.
The trial, which commenced on July 17, 2020, has seen several twists and turns. Justice Mohammed Liman, who initially presided over the case, had fixed January 23, 2024, for judgment after final addresses were adopted in November 2023. However, the judgment was not delivered on Tuesday as scheduled, prompting the court to inform the parties that a new date would be communicated.
The defendant, Anuoluwapo Adepoju, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on self-recognition. Despite subsequent transfers of Justice Liman out of the Lagos Division, he continues to preside over the case on a fiat.
The defense, in a bid to avoid entering a defense, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a case against the defendant. However, Justice Liman rejected the submission in a ruling delivered on April 7, 2022, stating that the evidence presented satisfied the elements of the criminal charges.
The trial proceeded, with the prosecution calling several witnesses before closing its case. The defense, on its part, called Anuoluwapo Adepoju as its sole witness during the defense proceedings.
The charges against the defendants allege that Adepoju failed to appear before the FCCPC for an investigation into a reported failed buttocks enlargement surgery. She is accused of refusing to comply with the Commission’s summons issued on April 15, 2020, and failing to produce required documents in response to the Commission’s notice of investigation dated April 14, 2020.
The state contends that the defendant prevented and obstructed the Commission from conducting its investigation, contravening various sections of the FCCPC Act, 2018. The court will now communicate a new date for judgment, extending the timeline of this closely-watched case.