Crime
Looting: Onitsha Trader Drags NAFDAC To Court, Demands ₦110m Compensation
A female trader at the popular Ogbo Ogwu (Bridgehead Drug Market) in Onitsha, Anambra State, has taken legal action against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), accusing the agency of unlawfully looting her clothing store during a recent drug market raid.
The trader, Ms. Sophia Eberechukwu Okoye, filed a ₦110 million lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Awka under suit number FHC/AWK/CS/162/2025.
Through her lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Okoye is seeking ₦100 million in damages and an additional ₦10 million to cover litigation costs.
She is also demanding the return of her seized goods — including boxers, singlets, shirts, jeans, shorts, joggers, and more — valued at approximately ₦15.76 million, or the equivalent amount in cash.
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According to the suit, the alleged incident occurred during a recent NAFDAC-led operation aimed at clearing fake, expired, and substandard drugs from the Onitsha market.
Ms. Okoye claims her shop, which deals exclusively in fashion items and has no ties to pharmaceuticals, was wrongfully targeted by security personnel and NAFDAC officials.
The suit followed the expiration of a one-month notice earlier served on NAFDAC in March 2025, notifying the agency of her intent to sue.
Speaking on the matter in a press release, her legal representative, Ejiofor — who is also known for representing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) — condemned the agency’s conduct and promised to pursue justice.
“No agency, regardless of its mission – has the right to operate outside the legal boundaries that define its existence. The recent events at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha are a shameful testament to what happens when institutions betray this fundamental principle,” Ejiofor stated.
He added that the incident, which has now gone viral, reveals the magnitude of injustice the trader suffered.
“The now-viral footage of Ms. Sophie Eberechukwu Okoye – a young trader devastated after her shop was unlawfully broken into and looted – has shocked the conscience of the nation.
“Her store, which sells clothes, watches, and fashion accessories, had no connection whatsoever to pharmaceuticals, yet it was targeted in a wave of looting allegedly carried out by a joint task force deployed under NAFDAC’s authority.”
He described the operation not as an act of law enforcement, but as outright criminality:
“What took place was not enforcement – it was lawlessness. This was not regulation – it was organised pillage. Armed with a mandate to protect, these operatives instead unleashed terror on innocent citizens, looting and decimating livelihoods without just cause.”
Ejiofor further revealed that with the legal notice period now over, they have officially commenced legal proceedings and vowed not to back down.
“This is unacceptable. However, upon the expiration of the statutory period for the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC, we have formally commenced a legal action against NAFDAC at the Federal High Court, Awka, demanding full accountability and redress for Ms. Sophie, a victim of this gross abuse of power.”
He went on to argue that the case represents a broader pattern of misconduct.
“But this is bigger than one victim or one case. What occurred at Ogbo-Ogwu appears to be part of a systemic pattern of misconduct, looting, and impunity.
“We are calling on both the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to immediately set up an independent investigative panel to audit the entire operation, identify all culprits, and ensure they face justice.”
While expressing support for NAFDAC’s role in combating fake drugs, the lawyer stressed that such efforts must not infringe on the rights of innocent citizens.
“We support NAFDAC’s mandate to rid our markets of fake drugs – but no mission, however noble, justifies trampling upon the rights and dignity of innocent Nigerians.
“Justice cannot and must not be collateral damage. A government that punishes the innocent while claiming to protect the public has failed its people. Every agency must be reminded: they serve under the law, not above it.”
Concluding his remarks, Ejiofor emphasized the importance of accountability:
“Today it’s Sophie. Tomorrow, it could be you. That’s why we must demand accountability, uphold the rule of law, and resist tyranny in all forms. We will not be silenced. We will not back down. Justice must be done – and seen to be done.”
The Nigeria Police Force has commenced steps to investigate alleged financial crimes involving more than ₦178 million against the National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, and other national executive officers of the organisation.
The allegations were contained in a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on July 13, 2026, by the law firm of A.F. Obainoke & Co. on behalf of some elected national officers of the PCRC.
According to the petition, Olaniyan and some other national executive officers were accused of financial crimes involving more than ₦178 million.
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The petitioners said they were elected into various national positions in the PCRC in 2022, including the position of National Auditor, while Olaniyan was elected National Chairman and subsequently sworn into office.
In a letter dated July 20, 2026, the office of the Inspector-General of Police forwarded the petition to the Director of Legal Services of the Nigeria Police Force for appropriate action.
The letter, signed by CP Lateef Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer, conveyed the directive of the Inspector-General for the matter to be handled by the legal services department.
The document, according to the report, was received by the Directorate of Legal Services on July 28, 2026.
The latest development comes amid ongoing allegations and internal disputes surrounding the leadership of the PCRC under Olaniyan.
Previous Allegations
The development follows earlier allegations of financial mismanagement and accountability concerns within the organisation.
In March, some PCRC members reportedly accused Olaniyan of failing to account for more than ₦20 million allegedly generated from registration fees for the organisation’s 2026 national leadership workshop.
Sources cited in the report claimed that more than 2,000 PCRC members registered for the workshop at ₦12,000 each in January and February 2026.
The report also alleged that the organisation had not conducted a comprehensive audit of its national accounts for more than three years.
Another PCRC controversy emerged in 2023 when an eight-member committee was reportedly constituted to investigate allegations involving ₦60.3 million allegedly embezzled by the chairman.
A document cited in the report indicated that the committee confirmed that ₦60.3 million had been realised by the PCRC and reviewed expenditure records, with an alleged balance of approximately ₦1.4 million.
The committee reportedly recommended measures including greater financial discipline, limiting the chairman’s powers and ensuring compliance with the organisation’s constitution.
PCRC Election Controversy
The latest allegations also come amid disputes over internal elections within the PCRC.
In July, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 13, AIG Godwin Iguh Eze, reportedly postponed a PCRC Zone 13 election over alleged procedural issues.
The police said nomination forms had not been made available to the AIG or the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, while contestants had also not been screened by the AIG or members of the Zonal Management Team.
Sources further alleged that Olaniyan had sought to influence the electoral process, although he reportedly did not respond to attempts to obtain his reaction.
Meanwhile, sources within the PCRC reportedly claimed that Olaniyan is seeking another tenure as National Chairman ahead of the November 29 election.
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Basil Iwoba Ochili, Managing Director of Debasilio Construction and Estate Development Limited, over alleged fraudulent activities involving N128 million.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday.
According to the commission, Ochili was arrested for allegedly using his company for fraudulent activities, including “obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N128,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-eight Million Naira).”
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The EFCC said Ochili was arrested based on a claim by a petitioner who alleged that sometime in September 2022, the suspect falsely presented himself as the owner of five plots of land situated beside Anambra State Secretariat by Stamford Hotel, Aroma Junction, Awka, Anambra State, and falsely offered the property for sale.
“Relying on the suspect’s representation, the petitioner purchased the said plots in the sum of N128,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million Naira), which was paid into the suspect’s company account,” the EFCC said.
However, the commission said the petitioner was unable to take possession of the land.
Preliminary investigations, according to the EFCC, showed that the suspect knew that the land “encroached on Anambra State Government Secretariat’s land” but allegedly went ahead to sell it to the petitioner.
The commission further said that instead of refunding the petitioner’s money, Ochili “offered him two dud cheques.”
“Further preliminary investigations showed that the suspect used part of the money to settle his debts,” the EFCC said.
The commission also stated that Ochili’s company, Debasilio Construction and Estate Development Limited, “has never been tax compliant.”
The EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
“The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the commission stated.
The Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced nine convicted crude oil thieves to 10 years in prison without an option of fine following a joint intelligence-led operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Navy (NN).
The convicts were among 19 suspects arrested earlier this year after security operatives caught them allegedly stealing crude oil from an oil well head identified as Asabo-D in Ibeno Local Council of the state.
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Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Joy Ikpeme found the nine men guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy and tampering with an oil pipeline, contrary to Section 1(7) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The judge sentenced each of them to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second count, with no option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The remaining 10 suspects arrested during the operation are expected to face further legal proceedings.
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation conducted by the DSS in collaboration with the NN as part of efforts to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the oil-producing communities of Akwa Ibom.
The conviction was described by a security source as another significant step in the sustained campaign against oil theft, particularly along Nigeria’s maritime and riverine areas.
According to the source, crude oil theft and illegal bunkering have continued to deprive the country of vital oil revenue while inflicting serious environmental damage on host communities.
The source said the latest conviction underscored the determination of security agencies to ensure that those involved in the theft of the nation’s crude resources are brought to justice.
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