By Chuks Eke
A group of traders at the Ogbo Ogwu Bridgehead market, Onitsha, Anambra state, under the umbrella of Unite Nigeria Group, UNG has dragged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC and three others to the Federal High Court sitting at Awka, Anambra state for breaking into their shops at the drug market and carting away their goods woth billions of naira without valid Court Order or Search Warrant.
Joined in the Suit as the second, third and fourth respondents are Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Southeast Zonal Director of NAFDAC; Director-General, Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON and the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Anambra state Command.
The applicants, Comrade Peter Okala, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, Prof. Samuel Anidike and Comrade C. C. Enwereonwu for themselves and on behalf of other members of the group operating under the name and style of UNG are claiming a total sum of N1 billion from the respondents as exemplary and general damages jointly and severally for the damages they suffered at Ogbo Ogwu market located at Niger Bridgehead, Onitsha as a result of the acts of respondents.
In the Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/40/2025, the applicants brought the application for the enforcement of their fundamental rights by way of Motion on Notice, pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 41, 43, 44 and Section 46 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), and under Order 2, Rules 1, 2 and 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
Apart from asking the court to order the respondents to pay them the total sum of N1 billion jointly and severally, the applicants are also seeking a declaration that the respondents’ act of breaking into their shops at Ogbo Ogwu market, Niger Bridgehead, Onitsha, confiscating and carting away goods worth N500 billion without a valid Court Order or Search Warrant is a breach of their Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The applicants are also seeking a declaration of the court that the respondents should return back to them all the goods, drugs and pharmaceutical products confiscated and carted away from their shops at Ogbo Ogwu market, Niger Bridgehead Onitsha, as well as an order restraining them and their agents from further breaking into their shops and carting away goods without valid Court Order or Search Warrant.
