A female clothing dealer at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, Sophie Okoye, has filed a legal suit against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and its Director-General, at the Federal High Court, Awka.

Okoye claimed that her store, which deals exclusively in clothing, watches, and fashion accessories, with no connection whatsoever to pharmaceutical trade, nevertheless, was targeted in a sweeping enforcement allegedly executed by a joint task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.

The aggrieved trader filed the suit following the expiration of the statutory period outlined in the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC.

According to the court documents obtained by our correspondent, on Friday, the matter is between Sophie Eberechukwu Okoye as plaintiff and NAFDAC and its DG as defendants in the Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/162/25, filed at the Federal High Court, Awka.

In the suit, the aggrieved trader is suing the regulatory agency for unlawfully breaking into her shop and/or carting away her goods valued at over N15 million, saying that her items are not affiliated whatsoever with drugs, food, or chemicals.

Among other declarations by the plaintiff include: “That the defendants have no power in the administration, management, and control of food and drugs to oppressively, unlawfully and unconstitutionally break into the shop of the plaintiff looted/carted away the plaintiff’s items that are not affiliated whatsoever with drugs, food or chemicals.

“That the defendant’s unlawful seizure and/or carting away of the plaintiff’s goods as listed with their value and quantity, is not only oppressive, unreasonable, but also unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional.

“An order of the honourable court directing the defendants to pay to the plaintiff the sum of N15,746.00 being the monetary value of the items carted away from the plaintiff’s shop by the defendants.”

Speaking on the development, the counsel for the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the suit was filed following the expiration of the statutory period outlined in the pre-action notice served on NAFDAC.

Ejiofor stated that once this mandatory notice period had elapsed, legal action against the regulatory agency would be promptly initiated.

He said, “In every just and democratic society, the rule of law is sacrosanct.

“No agency, regardless of its mandate, has the right to operate beyond the legal boundaries that define its existence.

“The recent developments at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, are a shameful testament to the dangers of institutional overreach and the betrayal of fundamental legal principles.

“The now widely circulated footage of Sophie Okoye, a young trader reduced to tears after her shop was unlawfully broken into and looted, has shocked the conscience of the nation.

“Her store, which deals exclusively in clothing, watches, and fashion accessories, has no connection whatsoever to the pharmaceutical trade.

“Nevertheless, it was targeted in a sweeping operation allegedly executed by a joint task force acting under NAFDAC’s authority.”

He, however, called on both the Federal Government and the Government of Anambra State to immediately constitute an independent investigative panel, which must audit the entire operation, identify all those responsible, and ensure they are brought to justice.

“While we unequivocally support NAFDAC’s statutory mandate to rid markets of counterfeit and substandard drugs, no mission, however noble, can justify the trampling of innocent citizens’ rights or the destruction of lawful businesses.”

Ejiofor stated that justice must never become collateral damage.

He vowed that neither he nor his client would be silenced or back down.

“Justice must be done and must be seen to be done,” Ejiofor added. (The PUNCH)