By Huldah Shado
A businesswoman in Onitsha, Sophie Okoye, has taken legal action against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and its Director General, following the alleged invasion of her shop by a task force said to be acting on behalf of the agency.
Okoye, who trades in clothing, watches, and fashion accessories at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Anambra State, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Awka.
She claims that her shop was unlawfully broken into and goods valued at over N15 million were confiscated.
In the suit marked FHC/AWK/CS/162/25, Okoye is asking the court to declare NAFDAC’s actions illegal on the grounds that her shop deals exclusively in non-pharmaceutical items.
She argues that NAFDAC has no legal basis to interfere with businesses unrelated to food, drugs, or chemicals.
Her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the suit followed a pre-action notice issued to the agency, adding that the invasion was oppressive and violated Okoye’s constitutional rights.
Okoye is seeking a court order compelling NAFDAC to refund N15,746,000, which she says is the value of the goods taken from her premises.
