Onitsha traders drag NAFDAC, SON, 2 others to court for sealing drug market in Anambra

By, Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Four traders at Ogbo Ogwu, Bridge head market, Onitsha, Anambra State, have dragged the Director General , DG of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, NAFDAC Zonal Director, Southeast, Martins Iluyomede and Anambra state Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, (defendants ), to a Federal High court sitting in Awka, over interference in their fundamental Human right.

The four traders, (applicants), include, Peter Okala, Alhaji Yunusa Tank, Samuel Anidike and C.C. Emereonwu, who are also members of Unite Nigeria Group, have through their counsel, Chibuike Nwabueze Esq, prayed the court for  some reliefs against the defendants 

The reliefs they seek in the suit No PHC/AWK/CS/40/2025, include, an order of the court restraining the respondents, their agents, officers, operatives, workers, how soever called from further breaking into the applicants’ shops at Ogbo Ogwu, Bridgehead market in their absence without a valid court order and search warrant and confiscating away their goods to unknown destination.

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their officers, agents, operatives, servants, however called from further breaking into the applicants’ shops at the said market without a valid court order and confiscating wares of the applicants to unknown destination without a valid court order and warrant of search.

They also prayed the court for #50million against the respondents as exemplary damages and  another #50million as general damages against the respondents as a result of the actions of the respondents.

Recall that prior to heading to the court, Peter Okala, on behalf of others called a press conference on the sudden invasion and seizure of the market without prior notice by NAFDAC describing the action as barbaric and in denial of the fundamental right of the citizenry.

According to him the traders have incurred over #200m loss as a result of the seal of the market for about 10 days now forcing the traders to go hungry having been rendered jobless by NAFDAC.

He added that #500 billion worth of wares were carted away by NAFDAC who he disclosed stormed the market with fierce looking military, police and other security operatives as it sealed the market.