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.
READ MORE: Controversy As NAFDAC Accuses VDM Of Inciting Drug Traders In Onitsha
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.”
A former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Jimoh Yisawu, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading not guilty to an eight-count charge of alleged money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Yisawu was arraigned on Monday before Justice Inyang Ekwo in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026, over allegations that he violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
SEE MORE: EFCC Files Fraud Charges Against Ex-MDs of Warri, PH Refineries
According to the EFCC, the former refinery boss allegedly indirectly converted more than $789,950, said to be proceeds of unlawful activity, in contravention of Section 18(2)(b) of the Act and punishable under Section 18(3).
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Yisawu made cash payments exceeding $789,950 to one Samaila Bala without using any financial institution, contrary to Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The commission also accused him of making additional cash payments totalling $122,600 through one Rasheed Olaitan Yusuf, also without routing the transactions through a financial institution.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all eight counts when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, defence counsel Wale Balogun (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail, noting that the EFCC had earlier released him on administrative bail after seizing his international passport.
Balogun appealed to the court to maintain the same bail conditions, arguing that his client needed to prepare adequately for his defence while out on bail.
However, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) opposed the application, urging the court to consider the EFCC’s counter-affidavit challenging the defendant’s request for bail.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the offences contained in the charge were bailable and ruled that Yisawu was entitled to bail.
Relying on Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the judge granted the former WRPC boss bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian with landed property in Abuja and must provide proof of ownership of the property.
Justice Ekwo also directed Yisawu to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval from the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the former refinery chief remain in the custody of the EFCC.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 25, 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has been granted bail in the sum of N20 million after pleading not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Nnaji was arraigned on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the ICPC accused him of forging academic credentials, including a degree certificate allegedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The anti-corruption agency also alleged that the former minister presented a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.
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The defendant, who served in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister of Science and Technology from August 16, 2023, until his resignation on October 6, 2025, denied all the allegations after the charges were read before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Following a bail application by his lead counsel, Chief James Onoja (SAN), the court admitted Nnaji to bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety in like sum.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the surety must be a civil servant resident in Abuja and not below Grade Level 15. The court further directed the surety to depose to an affidavit of means.
As part of the bail conditions, the former minister was ordered to surrender his international passport and barred from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Nnaji’s arraignment followed his arrest by security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on July 1, shortly after returning to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The ICPC had earlier confirmed that the arrest was carried out to facilitate investigations into the allegations against him.
The case is expected to proceed with the presentation of evidence when trial begins later this month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned the immediate past Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Ahmed Dikko, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, over an alleged N1.32bn money laundering scheme linked to the rehabilitation of the state-owned refinery.
Dikko was docked before Justice Inyang Ekwo on a 12-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026 alongside Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited.
The former refinery boss, who headed the Port Harcourt refinery from March 2020 for about four years, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The EFCC alleged that Dikko laundered the sum of N1,322,839,112.70, said to be proceeds linked to contractors engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, through cash property purchases, undisclosed bank retentions, concealment of funds through third parties and unauthorised foreign exchange transactions.
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According to the anti-graft agency, one of the charges alleged, “That you, Ahmed Adamu Dikko… did directly make cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218,375,000 to one Hadeija Bashir for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja without passing through a financial institution,” contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The commission further alleged in count eight, “That you Ahmed Adamu Dikko… on or about the 26th of June, 2023… disguised the origin of the sum of N328,710,337.50 paid into the GTBank Account… operated by Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited by OMSA Integrated Services Limited from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export when you knew that the said sum… constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.”
In count 11, the EFCC accused the former refinery boss of unlawfully converting foreign currency, alleging, “That you, Ahmed Adamu Dikko between October 2022 and May 2025, did convert the aggregate sum of $77,080 through Ibrahim Isa Yaro, which amount did not form part of your known lawful earnings as a former public officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.”
Following his plea, defence counsel, Okechukwu Ajunwa (SAN), urged the court to admit his client to bail pending trial, while EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), opposed the application.
In a ruling, Justice Ekwo admitted Dikko to bail in the sum of N150m with one surety in like sum.
The judge held that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and own landed property valued at not less than the bail sum.
He also directed the defendant to surrender his international passport and ordered that he be remanded in EFCC custody until he fulfilled the bail conditions.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 12, 13 and 14, 2026, for trial.
Courtesy – The Punch
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