NewStats: 3,263,926 , 8,181,920 topics. Date: Sunday, 08 June 2025 at 07:47 PM 1433u

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

Okoye claimed that her store, which deals exclusively in clothing, watches, and fashion accessories, with no connection whatsoever to pharmaceutical trade, nevertheless, was targeted in a sweeping enforcement allegedly executed by a t task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.

The aggrieved trader filed the suit following the expiration of the statutory period outlined in the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC.

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

In the suit, the aggrieved trader is suing the regulatory agency for unlawfully breaking into her shop and/or carting away her goods valued at over N15 million, saying that her items are not d whatsoever with drugs, food, or chemicals.

Among other declarations by the plaintiff include: “That the defendants have no power in the istration, management, and control of food and drugs to oppressively, unlawfully and unconstitutionally break into the shop of the plaintiff looted/carted away the plaintiff’s items that are not d 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, 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.”

Speaking on the development, the counsel for the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the suit was filed following the expiration of the statutory period outlined in the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC.

Ejiofor stated that once this mandatory notice period had elapsed, legal action against the regulatory agency would be promptly initiated.

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 t task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.”

He, however, called on both the Federal Government and the Government of Anambra State to immediately constitute an independent investigative , which must audit the entire operation, identify all those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice.

“While we unequivocally 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 stated that justice must never become collateral damage.

He vowed 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.

https://punchng.com/onitsha-trader-sues-nafdac-demands-n15m-over-shop-invasion/

The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

The issue of the market closure in Anambra state could have been resolved early had the traders in the market also cooperate with the NAFDAC by exposing your those who are into fake drugs which are known to the same traders.

As long as they continue shielding those that are into fake products, the NAFDAC shoo sealing might affect the innocent ones too

FreeStuffsNG:
The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

If NAFDAC did not find any other goods than clothing from the said lady's shop, why did they take her goods away even though in the same market with those that might be selling fake drugs.? That's unprofessional if that part is true

FreeStuffsNG:
The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

such a dark heart. You probably didn't read the article but decided to a guilty judgment because she's Igbo and not because she committed any crime. You didn't also see that nafdac ignored the pre action notice served on them. Esu gidi ni gbogbo yin walahi

FreeStuffsNG:
The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

How is it lawful to raid and steal clothes of a legitimate business that's in no way under the purview of NafdAc?

Urban bandit.

FreeStuffsNG:
The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

Traps are now meant to catch Hunters

That's the way to go, if more people do this next time Nafdac would treat you guys with respect

Some criminal ronus here are ing the illegal hatchet job done by NAFDAC. How is it under the purview of NAFDAC to loot and seal a clothing shop owned by this innocent woman?? This is aside the horrible statement coming from the NAFDAC woman where she was heard saying that even 1 Innocent pwrson will not be spared in her so called operation. What arrant nonsense from NAFDAC

D

N

helinues:
The issue of the market closure in Anambra state could have been resolved early had the traders in the market also cooperate with the NAFDAC by exposing your those who are into fake drugs which are known to the same traders.

As long as they continue shielding those that are into fake products, the NAFDAC shoo sealing might affect the innocent ones too

So the traders should do the Federal Agencies job. Didn't the drug through boader ,airport or seaport

helinues:
The issue of the market closure in Anambra state could have been resolved early had the traders in the market also cooperate with the NAFDAC by exposing your those who are into fake drugs which are known to the same traders.

As long as they continue shielding those that are into fake products, the NAFDAC shoo sealing might affect the innocent ones too

I have NEVER seen a person who speak so ignorantly with so much confidence. The information in the public domain shows NAFDAC NEVER saw a single fake drug. VDM challenged them to show proof of the fake drugs they found, till date no proof.

They went back to the market and was shamlessly telling them that their shops were closed down because it doesn't have a cross ventilation, their shameless officals were caught on tape in the show of shame. They were now called out that majority of the pharmacy shops in this country are without windows.

The big question here is why is NAFDAC collecting #700k from people it claimed are selling fake drugs? Is NAFDAC now authorising sale of fake drugs with #700k?

Peter Obi visited the site and saw that a lot of shops that are not selling drugs were shut down by NAFDAC. When he called NAFDAC to deal with only culprits, idiots online were making noise not understanding the situation on ground.

If not for foolishness and gross incompetence on the part of the agency, What is NAFDAC'S business with a shop selling cloth?
The present DG of NAFDAC is so incompetent and arrogant, she should go and learn how Dora took that agency to enviable heights.

Question:

Why didn't you stop Fake Drugs merchants from taking over your markets on such a scale that 90% of all medicine shops in the Market were found to be stocked with mainly fake Medicines?

NDLEA did right thing because health of Nigerians comes first

helinues:
The issue of the market closure in Anambra state could have been resolved early had the traders in the market also cooperate with the NAFDAC by exposing your those who are into fake drugs which are known to the same traders.

As long as they continue shielding those that are into fake products, the NAFDAC shoo sealing might affect the innocent ones too

..the issue with nafdac..is that the head of the agency was appointed by a fraudulent certificate holder..who employs stipend grabbers to write rubbish & push useless propaganda on his behalf..

..this could have been resolved if stipend snatchers hadn't cooperated to snatch stipends from a bullion van fraud..to chant his failure & incompetence on social media..

..as long as stipend snatchers continue grabbing stipends from an irreparable damage fraud..the hopeless chant of "it will favour me & my family" will remain a mirage..

I just wish more traders will sue this current Nafdac. They just go about destroying people's goods without showing how the goods are fake.

Seriously every single arm of this government is fraudulent but I'm not surprised at all.

Clothing in a drug market.
Okay o

FreeStuffsNG:


https://punchng.com/onitsha-trader-sues-nafdac-demands-n15m-over-shop-invasion/

Good move

Just N15 million? Someone should get their .

When government institutions are headed by tribalist and very petty people,the main goal of the organization will be defeated.Take a look at NDLEA headed by rtd gen. Buba Marwa applauded for his wonderful job of meticulously apprehending drug barons in our society and even the consumers,regardless of whose ox is gored.He is very patriotic and nationalistic in carrying out his duties.
Comparably,this can not be said of these other institutions headed by percieved tribalist,very petty people whose only mission is to get back at those they think are not in the good book of the presidency.Need I mention,NAFDAC,JAMB,EFCC etc,funny enough, these organizations are headed by people from south west. The question is this,nobody complains of tribal agenda in organizations headed by Nigerians of other ethnic group,why always the ones headed by these unrepentant tribalist from the same ethnic group.
As NAFDAC,get the bad boys selling fake drugs to face the law but allow other businesses and business men do there businesses without any form of extortion or disturbance whatsoever.
Be ready for more litigations.

Anambra crime capital of the world

Only in Nigeria will quacks be suing a regulatory agency. Lol.

If drug regulations rules are applied in Nigeria like it's done abroad, these drug sellers will cease to exist.

Hmmm

Let's see how it turns out

helinues:
The issue of the market closure in Anambra state could have been resolved early had the traders in the market also cooperate with the NAFDAC by exposing your those who are into fake drugs which are known to the same traders.

As long as they continue shielding those that are into fake products, the NAFDAC shoo sealing might affect the innocent ones too

Are you interested to work?

helinues:


If NAFDAC did not find any other goods than clothing from the said lady's shop, why did they take her goods away even though in the same market with those that might be selling fake drugs.? That's unprofessional if that part is true

Some drug store hide fske drugs in stires into other business

Okay

FreeStuffsNG:


https://punchng.com/onitsha-trader-sues-nafdac-demands-n15m-over-shop-invasion/

Govt should just arrest her and put her in long jail time for aiding and abetting. Simple

FreeStuffsNG:
The editorial of Punch did an awful job with this one-sided and biased reporting.

An unbiased reader of this report may think that this report seem like a hatchet job by the proscribed IPOB group lawyer in collaboration with the Punch reporter to instigate Punch newspapers readers against lawful authorities.

Why use the word invasion when this is a lawful exercise? Why was the spokesperson of NAFDAC not ed? Why is the report centered on the speech of only the IPOB lawyer? Why is there no a reference to the legal unit of NAFDAC to even confirm if there's such a correspondence? Why is the report looking like a sponsored post?

Unfortunately, this is what NAFDAC got for not prosecuting those directly involved and their collaborators who kept mute when crime of drug tampering and adulteration was being committed around them.

NAFDAC should stop issuing just fines and confiscating and destroying the exhibit, they should do like NDLEA and prosecute the suspects. That's the only way they can avert this kind of scenarios. Anyone arrested should go prove his or her innocence in court.

My joy is that in one way or the other, the failed and unprofessionalism of Nigeria institutions affects every tribe directly or indirectly.

Nigeria failed institution and her unprofessionalism will soon happen to you.