Court reserves judgment in failed buttocks enlargement surgery trial

In a lawsuit brought against surgeon Anuoluwapo Adepoju, who is on trial for allegedly botched buttock enlargement surgery, a Federal High Court in Lagos postponed its decision on Tuesday.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission brought Adepoju to court (FCCPC).

A five-count charge against her and her clinic, MedContour Services Ltd., centers on the latter’s alleged failure to honor an invitation for an inquiry into issues following body surgery.

On July 17, 2020, she appeared in court again wearing her medical costume.

Following the adoption of each party’s final addresses in November 2023, Justice Mohammed Liman scheduled a Tuesday hearing for decision.
But the judgment was not ready on Tuesday as earlier scheduled, and the court informed parties that a new date will be communicated to parties soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the defendant is charged by the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC).

She had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on self recognition.

Justice Liman was however, subsequently, transferred out of the Lagos Division of the court, but he still presides over the case on a fiat.

Trial commenced in the suit with the prosecution calling several witnesses, and thereafter closed its case

The defence on its part, filed a no case submission on grounds that no case had been established against the defendant by the prosecution to warrant her entering her defence.

Justice Liman had in a ruling delivered on April 7, 2022 rejected the no case submission filed by the defendant.

Liman had ruled that the evidence so far tendered before the court, satisfies the elements of the criminal charges pending against her.

The court had, consequently, ordered the defendant to open her defence.

The case however, suffered several adjournments on different dates, for various reasons.

On May 5, 2023, the defence began defence and called the first defendant as sole witness.

The defendant was led in evidence and also cross examined after which the court adjourned the case until June 21, 2023, for adoption of written addresses.

On June 21, 2023 the court did not sit and the case was then adjourned until July 17, 2023, and again adjourned until Oct. 24, 2023, and then Nov. 20, 2023.

On Nov. 20, 2023, the adoption of addresses by counsel was held virtually and judgment fixed for Jan. 23 (today)

A new date for judgment will now be communicated to parties.

In the five-counts charge brought against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that the first defendant failed to appear before the FCCPC in relation to investigation into a reported failed buttocks enlargement surgery.

It was claimed that the defendant disregarded the April 15, 2020 summons from the Commission.

In accordance with the Commission’s notice of investigation dated April 14, 2020, the prosecution further claimed that the first defendant failed to present papers that were demanded of her and refused to do so without acceptable justification.

It was claimed that the defendant impeded and hindered the Commission’s inquiry into the subject matter.

The FCCPC Act, 2018, sections 11(1)(a), 33(1)(a), 110, 113(1)(a), and 159(4) are all violated by the offense, according to the state.