HealthPlus: Why PCN must remain neutral
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN)
By
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has recently involved itself in a needless controversy over the disagreement between Alta Semper Capital, a renowned U.K. investment firm and Mrs. Bukky George, the founder and erstwhile Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of pharmaceutical retailer HealthPlus Limited.
It all started in 2017 when Alta Semper began talks with HealthPlus to give a lifeline to the business and help grow it. At the time Mrs George approached the PCN to secure a letter of “no objection” to the investment. Although such a letter was neither a pre-requisite for foreign investment in a pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, nor has the PCN ever issued it before, the regulatory body honoured the request in a bid to support Mrs. George and save HealthPlus from a potential collapse due to paucity of funds.
Reps to probe UK-based firm’s stake in HealthPlus
Leke Baiyewu, Abuja
The House of Representatives has received a petition alleging that the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria has granted a waiver to a private equity firm, Alta Semper Capital UK, otherwise known as Idi Holdings, to become a part owner of a popular retail pharmacy chain, HealthPlus, in Nigeria.
A lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba, of the Oladimeji Ekengba & Co (KKLM Chambers), petitioned the House over the alleged illegal issuance of a certificate of ‘No Objection’ to the firm by the PCN.
The lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Benjamin Kalu, had on Tuesday laid the petition, dated February 15, 2021, before the chamber on behalf of the lawyer.
Reps to investigate firm over alleged HealthPlus acquisition
On
By Henry Ojelu
The House of Representatives has directed an investigation into the legality of the operations of private equity firm, Alta Semper Capital UK (a.k.a Idi Holdings), as a part-owner of the popular retail pharmacy chain, HealthPlus, in Nigeria.
This came following a petition made by Oladimeji Ekengba and presented by Rep Benjamin Kalu, which challenged the waiver granted by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to Alta Semper Capital purportedly permitting the private equity firm to co-own and operate the retail pharmacy, HealthPlus in Nigeria.
The petition argued that according to Section 2(2) of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act, P.17, 2004 (PCN Act), a retail pharmacy can only be wholly owned by a registered pharmacist or in partnership with other registered pharmacists; and therefore, that the letter of ‘No Objection’ issued to Alta Semper as a waiver by the Registrar of PCN was an illeg
The new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Enugu State Command, Commandant Africa Valentine Ezenyimuru, has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s peace and development initiatives.
He said he was impressed to observe that a lot of people were flooding into the State because of the enduring peace and good governance entrenched by the Governor.
Speaking when he paid a maiden courtesy visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, on Wednesday, Commandant Ezenyimuru, also applauded the governor for the cooperation and support his administration has continued to extend to the security agencies in Enugu State, to ensure that the existing peace and good governance in the state are sustained.
Daily Post Nigeria
Published
A private equity firm, Alta Semper, is to face a House of Representatives panel, over what the lawmakers described as “unlawful waiver” obtained by the company to hold shares in a popular retail Pharmacy, Health Plus.
The resolution followed a petition by one Mr. Oladimeji Ekengba, challenging an alleged waiver granted by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to Alter Semper Capital, also known as Idi Holdings.
Reps Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, presented the petition on behalf of the petitioner during the plenary.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, Rep. Kalu said the decision by the House to investigate the matter was in order and according to the Act establishing the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).