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A businesswoman from Onitsha, Anambra State, Ms. Eberechukwu Sophia Okoye, has filed a lawsuit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the Federal High Court in Awka.
She is claiming that her office was invaded and goods worth N15.746 million were seized and looted.
Among the confiscated items were numerous jeans imported from Turkey, boxers, joggers, caps, condom packets, underpants, and Italian palm sandals.
Sources indicate that this lawsuit has caused unrest among the senior officials at NAFDAC, leading to anxiety among its staff in Abuja, Lagos, and the South East. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, is also named in the suit, marked FHC/AWK/CS/162/2025.
Represented by her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Ms. Okoye is seeking N100 million in general and exemplary damages, along with N10 million to cover legal costs.
She is asking the court to state that the defendants unlawfully broke into her shop, stole, and took items that are not related to drugs, food, or chemicals. Additionally, Ms. Okoye is requesting the court to rule that the seizure and looting of her shop were not only oppressive and unreasonable but also illegal.
Moreover, she is seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants, including their employees, agents, or associates, from further attempts to break into, close, or tamper with her shop.
The case has been assigned to Court 2 at the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State.
On March 15, 2025, NAFDAC officials monitoring the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha allegedly looted Ms. Okoye’s shop, taking non-pharmaceutical goods worth N15.746 million.
Ejiofor has previously called for a thorough investigation and accountability, having served a pre-action notice to NAFDAC.
He stated that the arbitrary looting of a citizen’s business under the pretense of regulatory enforcement constitutes "an egregious abuse of power, a criminal act, and a violation of fundamental rights."
He emphasized that while regulatory bodies must enforce compliance, such actions must comply with due process, fairness, and the rule of law.
No government agency should be allowed to misuse enforcement to impose undue hardship on innocent individuals.
"We are committed to seeking justice for Ms. Eberechukwu.
Those responsible for this unlawful and disgraceful act must be held accountable fully. Justice should not only be achieved but must also be visibly served."
