Onitsha Drug Market Closure : Court Adjourns Hearing On Suit Against NAFDAC, IGP, COAS, SON, Others …As NAFDAC Denies Imposing #700,000 Levy

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

Hearing will continue on Thursday, 29 May 2025 in the suit instituted at the Federal High court sitting at Awka, Anambra state capital, by United Nigeria Group, (UNG), (plaintiff), against National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Inspector General of Police, IGP, Chief of Army Staff, Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, and three others, (respondents), over the continued closure of Onitsha Bridge Head Ogbogwu (drug), market shut by NAFDAC, on claim that the market deals in fake drugs.

Recall that when the case came up for hearing on 22 May 2025, lead counsel to the applicant, Chibuike Nwabueze Esq and Chief Barr Oluoba, brought the attention of the Hon. court Presided over by Hon. Justice Anyadike, to the continued closure of the Ogbogwu market (106 days), since 9/2/25 when it was first sealed up 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 N1.3million on each member of the Applicants before his shop can be opened for business without any court order or approval.

In defence of NAFDAC, led by Dr. Martins Iluyomade, its counsel, Jombo Washington Esq, denied that NAFDAC or Dr Iluyomade imposed any levy on traders before their shops could be reopened for trading.

The NAFDAC counsel also denied that the Ogbogwu market Onitsha is under seal saying 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 Comrade sir Peter Okala and three others for and on behalf of members of United Nigeria Group (UNG) against NAFDAC and six others including Chief of Army staff; Inspector General (IGP) and other security agencies, only lawyers representing NAFDAC and the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) the third respondent announced appearance in the case.

Meanwhile in a further affidavit in support of the suit, deposed to by Okala (JP) and filed in court on 17th of April, the applicants deposed amongst others that the claim by NAFDAC in the 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 Ogbogwu market Onitsha.

That the claim by NAFDAC in the social media that Ogbogwu market Onitsha has been reopened for business since February is not true but aimed at mis leading members of the general public as well as grounding the source of livelihood of the South easterners.

That in a press release dated 2nd April 2025, NAFDAC directed shop owners to sign an undertaking, along a penalty of between N500,000 to N1.3million for past violations.

That the Applicants rejected this criminal fine on its members and called on the Federal Minister of Health, National Security Adviser (NSA); 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 destination without any court order or search warrant.

The affidavit listed some dead traders to include; Prof Samuel Anidike, 3rd Applicant on record; Mr. Ejike martin Anusionwu, aged 47 years; Chief Chika Nwoji; Sir Weighty Ebelebe, among others.

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 further affidavit stated that the injury the Applicants and members are currently suffering from the continued closure of Ogbogwu market Onitsha since 9/2/25 till date is such that cannot be compensated in damages.

The Presiding judge,Hon Justice Anyadike, after hearing the submissions of both counsels adjourned the matter to Thursday, 29 May 2925 for further hearing.