Four traders from the Ogbo Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, have filed a lawsuit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the agency’s recent closure of their market.
The traders, who are members of the United Nigeria Group, allege that their fundamental human rights have been violated following the unlawful seizure of their goods.
According to the traders—Peter Okala, Alhaji Yunusa Tanko, Prof. Samuel Anidike, and C.C. Emereonwu—the market was sealed by NAFDAC, with the support of police and military forces, without prior notice. In a statement, they described the action as “barbaric” and said it caused over N200 million in losses, leaving them jobless and hungry.
“We have incurred huge losses due to the closure. NAFDAC took away goods worth approximately N500 billion without any valid court order,” said the traders in a press conference before heading to court.
The traders are seeking N50 million in exemplary damages and another N50 million in general damages from the agency. They also requested an injunction to prevent further unlawful searches and confiscations of their goods.
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Awka, highlights ongoing tensions between traders and regulatory agencies over the handling of counterfeit drug claims at the market.