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).
Reps to probe Alta Semper s bid to take over HealthPlus thecable.ng - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thecable.ng Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As controversy over the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Bill 2020 rages, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos Chapter, has kicked against a deliberate attempt by sponsors of the bill to undermine the constitutional power of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) as the only body that can regulate Pharmacy Practice at both the private and public sector levels in Nigeria.
The pharmacists’ body accused the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, of attempting to force unimaginable clauses into the MDCN Bill in collaboration with his Medical and Dental Council colleagues.
The Chairman of the PSN, Lagos Chapter, Gbolagade Iyiola, in a press statement said: “We observe with dismay, the undisguised attempts by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, to force through the unimaginable sacrileges he and his medical collaborators had smuggled into the MDCN Bill 2020.”