Woman sues NAFDAC over N15.7m goods seizure, demands N110m damages.
A Businesswoman based in Onitsha, Anambra State, Ms Eberechukwu Sophia Okoye, has sued the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) before a Federal High Court in Awka over the alleged invasion of her office, and the seizure and looting of goods estimated at N15.746 million.
Among the items seized by NAFDAC were dozens of jeans imported from Turkey, boxers, joggers, caps, condom packets, underpants, and Italian palm sandals.
Sources disclosed that the current suit has unsettled the top hierarchy of NAFDAC, with fear reportedly gripping its staff members in Abuja, Lagos, and the South East.
Joined as a respondent in the suit marked FHC/AWK/CS/162/2025 is the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye. The plaintiff, represented by her lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is claiming N100 million as general and exemplary damages and N10 million as the cost of the action.
The plaintiff is asking the court to declare that the defendants, in the administration, management, and control of food and drugs, broke into her shop, looted, and carted away items unrelated to drugs, food, or chemicals.
Ms Okoye also wants the court to declare that the seizure of her goods and the looting of her shop are not only oppressive and unreasonable but also illegal.She further seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, or privies from taking further steps to break into, lock up, or tamper with her shop.
The case has been assigned to Court 2 at the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State. Recall that on March 15, 2025, NAFDAC officials stationed to oversee the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, allegedly looted Ms Okoye’s shop, carting away non-pharmaceutical goods valued at N15.746 million.
Ejiofor had earlier demanded a thorough investigation and accountability, with a pre-action notice formally served on NAFDAC. According to him, the arbitrary looting of a citizen’s business under the guise of regulatory enforcement is “an egregious abuse of power, a criminal act, and a violation of fundamental rights.”
He stated, “While regulatory agencies have a duty to enforce compliance, such actions must strictly adhere to due process, fairness, and the rule of law.”
No government agency should be permitted to weaponise enforcement to inflict unwarranted hardship on innocent individuals.
“We remain unwavering in our pursuit of justice for Ms Eberechukwu. Those responsible for this unlawful and reprehensible act must face the full weight of the law. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.”
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