A female trader at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, Sophie Eberechukwu Okoye, has filed a lawsuit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and its Director-General at the Federal High Court in Awka.
Okoye, who runs a shop that exclusively sells clothing, watches, and fashion accessories, claims her business was wrongfully targeted during a raid allegedly carried out by a joint task force operating under NAFDAC’s authority.
The legal action, filed as Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/162/25, followed the lapse of a pre-action notice period served to the agency. Okoye alleges that officials unlawfully broke into her store and confiscated goods worth over N15 million, even though her shop deals in no items related to drugs, food, or chemicals.
Court documents obtained on Friday outline the trader’s key claims. Among the declarations, Okoye stated:
“That the defendants have no power in the administration, management, and control of food and drugs to oppressively, unlawfully and unconstitutionally break into the shop of the plaintiff [and] looted/carted away the plaintiff’s items that are not affiliated whatsoever with drugs, food or chemicals.”
She further contends 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.”
The suit demands that the court order NAFDAC to compensate her with N15,746,000, representing the total value of the confiscated items.
Her legal counsel, Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed the filing and described the situation as a gross abuse of power.
“In every just and democratic society, the rule of law is sacrosanct,” he said.
“No agency, regardless of its mandate, has the right to operate beyond the legal boundaries that define its existence.”
Ejiofor condemned what he called a case of institutional overreach, saying the enforcement action at the market demonstrated a “betrayal of fundamental legal principles.”
Referring to public reaction, Ejiofor added:
“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 joint task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.”
Calling for accountability, Ejiofor urged both the federal and Anambra State governments to step in:
“We unequivocally support NAFDAC’s statutory mandate to rid markets of counterfeit and substandard drugs, [but] no mission, however noble, can justify the trampling of innocent citizens’ rights or the destruction of lawful businesses.”
He demanded the formation of an independent investigative panel to review the incident, audit the operation, and identify those responsible.
“Justice must be done and must be seen to be done,” Ejiofor declared.
“Justice must never become collateral damage.”
He affirmed that neither he nor his client would retreat until justice is served.
