Traders inside the popular Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State have filed a suit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC over the reopening of the market, shut since February 15, 2025.
TheNewsGuru recalls that Operatives of NAFDAC, led by the Director, South-East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, had in February 9 raided the market and uncovered over 10 trucks of fake products estimated at over N1 trillion.
The fake drugs were later destroyed at the ASWAMA dump site in Awka, by the agency, after the exercise.
In a new twist to the drama, the affected traders are alleging that NAFDAC imposed a fine of N700,000 on each of them before reopening of their shops.
The affected traders, described the action of NAFDAC as scandalous, outrageous and reprehensible, adding that they had documented evidence to prove that NAFDAC had officially collected the sum of N700,000 from every shop owner in the drug market, in order to allow them have access to their shops.
They alleged further that over 1,000 shop owners have paid the contentious N700,000 access fee.
The aggrieved traders, under the aegis of United Nigeria Group approached the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, praying the court to enforce their fundamental rights, including the immediate reopening of the market.
According to the suit No: FHC/AWK/CD/53/2025, hearing will continue on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
The suit instituted at the Federal High court sitting at Awka, Anambra State capital, by United Nigeria Group (plaintiff) is against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Inspector General of Police, IGP, Chief of Army Staff, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and three others, (respondents), over the continued closure of the market on claim that the market deals in fake drugs.
When the case came up for hearing on May 22, 2025, the lead counsel to the applicant, ChibuikeNwabuezeEsq and Chief Barr Oluoba, brought the attention of the court presided over by Justice I. Anyadike, to the continued closure of the Ogbo-Ogwu Market (106 days), since 9/2/25 when it was first sealed by the operatives of NAFDAC and other security agencies.
The applicant’s counsel also informed the court of the NAFDAC imposed levy of between N700,000 to N1.3 million on each member of the applicants before his shop can be opened for business without any court order or approval.
However, NAFDAC, led by Martins Iluyomade, its counsel, Jombo Washington Esq, denied the imposition of N700,000 levy on traders before their shops could be reopened for trading.
He also denied that the Ogbo-Ogwu Market Onitsha is under seal, adding that the market has since been unsealed by NAFDAC and traders have gained access to their shops and doing their normal business.
At the resumed hearing of the suit filed by Peter Okala and three others on behalf of members of United Nigeria Group against NAFDAC and six others, only lawyers representing NAFDAC and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON the third respondent announced appearance in the case.
In a further affidavit in support of the suit, deposed to by Peter Okala and filed in court on 17th of April, the applicants deposed, amongst others, that the claim by “NAFDAC on social media that the drugs they carted away from Onitsha are fake and substandard drugs are not true, but calculated to tarnish the image of thousands of responsible and genuine traders at Ogbo-Ogwu Market, Onitsha.
“The claim by NAFDAC on social media that Ogbogwu market Onitsha has been reopened for business since February is not true but aimed at misleading members of the general public as well as grounding the source of livelihood of the South easterners.”
The applicants claimed that in a press release dated April 2, 2025, NAFDAC directed shop owners to sign an undertaking, along with a penalty of between N500, 000 to N1.3m for past violations.
“They rejected this criminal fine on its members and called on the Federal Minister of Health, National Security Adviser, members of the National Assembly and the Honourable court to come to their rescue.
“That the continued closure of the market has resulted in mass death of some affected traders whose goods were impounded and carted away in their absence to unknown destinations without any court order or search warrant.
“That accepting to pay the amount imposed by NAFDAC shows that the applicants (members), deal in fake, adulterated, unwholesome drugs; unregistered and banned drugs which is not true.”
The presiding judge, Justice Anyadike, after hearing the submissions of both counsels, adjourned the matter to Thursday, May 29, 2025 for further hearing.