Trader sues NAFDAC over Onitsha shop invasion

Sophie Okoye, a female clothing dealer at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, has filed a legal suit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC and its Director-General at the Federal High Court, Awka.

Okoye said that despite the fact that her store only sells clothing, watches, and fashion accessories and has no relation to the pharmaceutical industry, it was targeted in a broad enforcement action purportedly carried out by a combined task force acting under NAFDAC jurisdiction.

The aggrieved trader filed the lawsuit after the statutory term specified in the pre-action notice placed on NAFDAC had expired.

According to court documents obtained by our reporter on Friday, the case is between Sophie Eberechukwu Okoye as plaintiff and NAFDAC and its DG as defendants in Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/162/25, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Awka.

The offended merchant is suing the regulatory body for unlawfully entering into her shop and/or carting away her goods worth more than N15 million, claiming that her commodities have nothing to do with medications, food, or chemicals.

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Among other declarations by the plaintiff are: “That the defendants have no power in the administration, management, and control of food and drugs to oppressively, unlawfully and unconstitutionally break into the shop of the plaintiff and loot/cart away the plaintiff’s items that are not affiliated whatsoever with drugs, food or chemicals.

“That the defendant’s unlawful seizure and/or carting away of the plaintiff’s goods as listed with their value and quantity is not only oppressive and unreasonable but also unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional.

“An order of the honourable court directing the defendants to pay to the plaintiff the sum of N15,746.00, being the monetary value of the items carted away from the plaintiff’s shop by the defendants.”

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel for the plaintiff, stated that the suit was filed after the statutory period outlined in the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC expired.

Ejiofor stated that legal action against the regulatory agency would be initiated immediately after the notice period expired.

He said, “In every just and democratic society, the rule of law is sacrosanct.

“No agency, regardless of its mandate, has the right to operate beyond the legal boundaries that define its existence.

“The recent developments at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, are a shameful testament to the dangers of institutional overreach and the betrayal of fundamental legal principles.

“The now widely circulated footage of Sophie Okoye, a young trader reduced to tears after her shop was unlawfully broken into and looted, has shocked the conscience of the nation.

“Her store, which deals exclusively in clothing, watches, and fashion accessories, has no connection whatsoever to the pharmaceutical trade.

“Nevertheless, it was targeted in a sweeping operation allegedly executed by a joint task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.”

He did, however, urge both the Federal Government and the Government of Anambra State to promptly establish an impartial investigation team to examine the entire operation, identify all those culpable, and ensure they are brought to justice.

“While we unequivocally support NAFDAC’s statutory mandate to rid markets of counterfeit and substandard drugs, no mission, however noble, can justify the trampling of innocent citizens’ rights or the destruction of lawful businesses.”

Ejiofor mentioned that justice must never become collateral damage.

He pledged that neither he nor his client would be silenced or back down.

“Justice must be done and must be seen to be done,” Ejiofor added.

Trader sues NAFDAC over Onitsha shop invasion