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Alleged Fake drugs: Onitsha Traders drag NAFDAC to Court, demand N500bn as Damages
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The recent closure of the Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market has drawn the anger of the United Nigeria Group made up of traders at the market as they have approached the Federal High Court for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.
The body also contended that not all the traders are culprits in the sale of fake and substandard products insisting that the goods passed through Customs Standard Organization of Nigeria SON before getting to Onitsha lamenting that the traders should not be punished over what they described as the fault of the relevant bodies.
But when contacted the Chairman of Bridge Head Drug Market Onitsha Mr Chukwulota Ndubuisi said that the association is holding a stakeholders meeting on the matter contending that the those that went to court are not traders at the market.
But the leader of United Nigeria Group UNG Peter Okala dismissed his claims noting that majority of the traders belong to the group including his own wife insisting that as Nigerians they have their right for the enforcement of their human rights.
Continuing, the Convener Sir Peter Okala who is also the Secretary of Conflict Resolution in the area said they are also praying the Court to grant the payment of N100 million damages as a result of the raid .
This is contained in Suit No PHC/ Awk/ CS/ 40 / 2025 dated 18/02 /2025 against National Agency For Food And Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC.
According to the Applicant Sir Peter Okala while speaking with reporters in Onitsha;
” You may recall that on 10th February 2025 a combined team of officers, officials, Operatives, Agents, as well as armed soldiers drawn from the Onitsha Military Cantonment under the auspices of NAFDAC raided the popular Ogbo Ogwu Market, Niger Bridge head Onitsha, Anambra State, broke into traders shops, confiscated goods worth ₦500 Billion and carted them away to an unknown Destination without any Notice, without a Court order, and/or without a search warrant”
“Before this raid on the 10th of February 2025 members of the Applicants shops involved in the raid were not under any NAFDAC or police investigation whatsoever.
“However on 10th of February, 2025 NAFDAC raided the popular Ogbo Ogwu Market at Niger Bridge head Onitsha, Anambra State confiscating large quantities of pharmaceutical products and drugs and other non consumables from the Applicants members shops without a Valid Court order or search warrant.
“The South East Zonal Director of NAFDAC Dr. Martins Iluyomade who led other NAFDAC Operatives took both the Market leaders and traders by surprise as NAFDAC Operatives without a Valid Court Order and search warrant moved from shop to shop breaking into these shops in the absence of their owners, confiscating and carting away wide range of drugs and products to unknown destination.
“It should be placed on record that NAFDAC Operatives have their spies in the Market and some of these spies are jealous of some of their fellow traders who are doing well in genuine business and more successful in business than them and are therefore out to pull them down by collaborating with NAFDAC.
” It is a known fact that NAFDAC Operatives undertook the said raid without a Valid Court Order and on false assumption that members of the Applicant at Ogbo Ogwu Market are involved in repackaging and re-bagging some drugs in the market which is not true.
“NAFDAC and their operatives refused to show and/or provide any Applicant member’s shop at Ogbo Ogwu Market where the alleged counterfeit drugs were repackaged and re-baged.
“This exercise and/or raid has crippled over 2,000 businesses belonging to members of the United Nigeria Group (UNG )and rendered the traders whose shops were broken into in their absence without any Valid Court Order and search warrant useless for life.
“This raid is not only targeted at UNG members at the Niger Bridge head Onitsha, but it is also targeted at UNG members in the entire markets in the South East Zone like Aba, Onitsha, Umuahia, Enugu, Abakaliki, among others.
“The drugs and other materials confiscated and carted away so far by the NAFDAC and co without any Valid Court Order and search warrant and in the absence of shop owners is estimated at Five Hundred Billion Naira(₦500,BILLION).
“The NAFDAC Operation at Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge Onitsha has rendered over 2,000 members of UNG useless and out of business without any other means of livelihood.”
” This NAFDAC raid of Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge Onitsha was carried out without Notice to either Bridge head market leadership , Ogbogwu leadership or the executives of the various lines and Association and were done in violation of the Fundamental Rights of members of UNG who were absent during the raid. NAFDAC only swooped on unsuspecting traders at the market without any Valid Court Order and search warrant”
“This world itself is a market place and humanity in general are all traders, trading in cash or in kind during one’s lifetime on earth “so any breach of the fundamental right of any trader at Onitsha, Oshodi, Aba, Wuse market Abuja is an injury to all traders worldwide’
” About 90 percent of the drugs and beverages confiscated by NAFDAC in this Operation at Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge head Onitsha without any Valid Court Order are not made in Nigeria, they were all imported from Europe and America.”
“Where were NAFDAC, CUSTOMS, IMMIGRATION, ARMY and other security agencies when these goods passed through our country’s border into Nigerian markets without detection and/or seizure from the importers?”
“Members of UNG whose goods were confiscated and carted away are innocent traders doing their legitimate businesses and should not be punished unjustly”
” The rule of engagement for this exercise, confiscation and raid on UNG members shops in all the markets in the South East Zone are very wrong since there was no Valid Court Order or search warrant that authorised NAFDAC Operatives to break into traders shops in their absence, confiscate their goods and cart them away to undisclosed location”
” UNG, members whose goods were confiscated and carted away without any Valid Court Order did not commit any crime by dealing in imported products and/or goods which legitimately passed through the Nigerian borders without any seizure by security agencies”
” In furtherance to this crack down on UNG members shops Nationwide, the Director General of NAFDAC Professor Mojisola Adeyeye who recently spoke in an Arise T.V Prime time confirmed the raid at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Niger Bridge Onitsha as well as confirmed the confiscation of large quantities of goods from UNG members shops”
“The South East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade working at the instigation of the Director General of NAFDAC has vowed publicly not to stop this raid, confiscation and carting away of traders goods without any Valid Court Order or search warrant at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Niger Bridge head Onitsha.”
“NAFDAC has no laboratory equipped with Modern equipment to do proficiency testing of some of these pharmaceutical products confiscated to ascertain the genuineness or otherwise of some of these products confiscated from members shops not only at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Niger Bridge head Onitsha but the entire markets in the South East Zone.”
“Our members at Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge head Onitsha, are entitled to be heard first before their goods, property and money can be confiscated and carted away without a Valid Court Order or search warrant by the respondent in their absence”
“Though we cannot stop NAFDAC or any security agency from carrying out investigation of a crime if any but our members at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Niger Bridge head Onitsha, should not be humiliated before the members of the general public, their shops broken into, in their absence and without a Valid Court Order or search warrant and their goods confiscated and carted away to unknown Destination”
” The Acts of the respondents against our members at Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge head Onitsha is a denial of our members right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing, right to secure and own movable properties anywhere in the country as well as have infringed on our members right to human dignity”
“Based on the above stated and verifiable facts the Unite Nigeria Group (UNG) approached the Federal High Court Awka in suite No: FHC/Awka/CS/40/2025 to enforce the fundamental rights of UNG members at Ogbo Ogwu Market Niger Bridge head Onitsha against NAFDAC and others’
“Among other reliefs, we are praying the Honourable court for perpetual injunction restraining NAFDAC and others; N100 Million Naira Examplary and general damages against NAFDAC & OTHERS. etc”
“It is our utmost believe that unless restrained by the honourable court, NAFDAC will not Desist and/or refrain their Acts of breaching the Fundamental Rights of our members as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended” he stated
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the demise of its Enugu State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Franklin O Agbakoba.
This is contained in a statement issued by FRSC Deputy Corps Commander in-charge of Enugu State Operations, DCC Kyrian C Okolo, on Friday in Enugu.
“FRSC Enugu State Sector Command received the sad news of the demise of CC Franklin Agbakoba on Thursday, July 30,2026.
“The late Sector Commander died at Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu where he was receiving treatment.
“His corpse have been deposited at the Eastern Medical Center, Enugu,” he said.
Until his death,CC Franklin Agbakoba made inter-agency collaboration and partnership his legacy and promoted safer roads within Enugu State.
The family’s head, Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi, made the demand during an interview with Arise News on Thursday.
“I think the family needs apology. The family needs to be compensated. We need sincere apology. We need sincere reconciliation,” he said.
He described his uncle as a visionary leader who was wrongly punished for a coup he had no role in.
“He was a man of vision. He was a detribalized Nigerian. He was a good leader,” he said.
Imo Aguiyi-Ironsi noted that his uncle’s tenure as Head of State was brief and ended violently.
“He occupied the seat of head of state for only six months, and he was taken away from us.
“Not because of a sin he committed, because he wasn’t part of the January 1966 coup.”
According to him, Aguiyi-Ironsi’s death resulted from his position rather than any wrongdoing on his part.
“Only because of his position as the most senior military officer, he was told to take charge. And then that cost him his life,” he said.
He expressed hope that his appeal would reach those with the power to act on it.
“Well, I hope there are people who are in positions to make this happen that are listening to you tonight,” he said.
Aguiyi-Ironsi served as Nigeria’s Head of State from January 16 to July 29, 1966, taking charge in the aftermath of the January 15, 1966 coup that had claimed the lives of the country’s political leadership.
He survived that coup and helped crush the mutiny, but his later decision to centralise power under Decree 34, along with his failure to prosecute the plotters, fuelled resentment among northern officers.
He was killed on July 29, 1966, alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, in a mutiny by northern soldiers that became known as the July counter-coup
The directive was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.
Addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers, the circular said the order took immediate effect and formed part of efforts to uphold professional standards within the apex court.
The memorandum read, “I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
It further directed all affected officers to immediately stop using the title in official correspondence and other official materials.
The memo stated, “Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names in all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and any other official engagements with immediate effect.”
The memorandum added, “Heads of Departments and Unit Heads are requested to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly.”
The directive comes weeks after the Council of Legal Education cautioned prospective lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally called to the Nigerian Bar.
The council said such conduct undermined the dignity of the legal profession and warned that violators could face disciplinary measures.
It also reminded candidates that the use of legal regalia is governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct and is reserved for duly qualified legal practitioners
The Enugu State Government says it has intensified fight against quackery across all health professions, particularly in the laboratory practice within the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, revealed this on Friday while receiving the National President of Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Dr. Casimir Ifeanyi, on a courtesy visit to his office in Enugu.
Ugwu decried the growing trend of unprofessional practices and establishments where laboratory services are combined with pharmacies, patient treatment areas, provision stores, and other unauthorised activities.
According to him, such practices are unacceptable and dangerous to public health.
He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate quackery especially in laboratory practices and operations through sustained monitoring, regulation and enforcement.
The commissioner also commended the association for its dedication to promoting excellence in medical laboratory science and public health advocacy.
He assured the team of the ministry’s willingness to collaborate with professional bodies whose activities align with the government’s vision of delivering accessible, quality, and people-centred healthcare services across the state.
Ugwu stressed the remarkable strides recorded under the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah in transforming the health sector, including investments in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, primary healthcare revitalisation and improved service delivery.
He urged the association to remain steadfast in upholding professionalism and ethical standards, emphasising that stronger partnerships between government and healthcare professionals remained essential in building a healthier Enugu State.
Earlier, Ifeanyi, who made the visit with some members of his national executive and Enugu State Chapter of AMLSN, briefed the commissioner on the association’s forthcoming AMLSN Annual Public Health Lecture.
He solicited the state government’s goodwill, support and participation in the event, which would be held in Enugu.
“The annual lecture is aimed at advancing quality healthcare delivery, promoting public health awareness, and fostering stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals and government institutions,” he said.
He noted that the association remained committed to improving professional standards and supporting initiatives that would enhance healthcare outcomes for residents of Enugu State and Nigeria at large.
…Inaugurates Amufie Town Union executives
By Chinedu Sabastine
The Enugu State Government has urged Town Union President Generals (PGs) across the state to adopt inclusive leadership that promotes peace, unity and sustainable development in their communities.
The Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Chief Charles Egumgbe, gave the charge on Wednesday while inaugurating the newly elected 14-member executives of the Amufie Town Union in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
The executive committee, led by the President-General, Engr. Kenneth Okechukwu Ogili, was presented with certificates of return at the ministry’s headquarters in Enugu.
Egumgbe urged the new leadership to ensure transparency, accountability and regular engagement with members, stressing that women and youths must be carried along in decision-making.
He advised the executives against operating exclusive caucuses, noting that town union affairs should be conducted openly through regular meetings where decisions are collectively taken.
“You must carry everybody along. Let your policies be all-inclusive and ensure that members are well informed about your activities. Matters should be tabled before the executive and decisions reached collectively,” he said.
The commissioner warned against abuse of office, particularly in matters relating to community land, stressing that anyone found working against the interest of the community could be removed under the state’s Town Union law.
“I don’t know whether you will receive remuneration because this is service to humanity. But whatever you do, don’t sell community land illegally. Land has a way of fighting for itself,” he cautioned.
Responding, the new inaugurated President-General, Ogili, pledged to lead with transparency and work closely with his executive to promote peace, unity and development in Amufie.
He said the administration would prioritise security by strengthening the neighbourhood watch and collaborating with security agencies to flush out criminals from identified flashpoints.
Ogili also promised to maintain a cordial working relationship with the traditional ruler of the community.
“The Igwe is our father. We have different constitutional roles, and there will be no conflict between us. We shall work harmoniously for the peace and progress of Amufie,” he said.
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