The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a civil rights advocacy group, has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to refund over ₦3 billion allegedly extorted from traders at the Onitsha Drug Market, Anambra State.

 

The demand comes amid widespread outcry over NAFDAC’s prolonged closure of the market, which has lasted for more than 90 days. Intersociety claims that between 3,500 and 3,800 traders were coerced into paying penalties, reportedly amounting to ₦700,000 per trader.

 

In a statement released on Friday and jointly signed by Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi (Head of Intersociety), Chinwe Umeche (Head of Democracy and Good Governance), and Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam (Head of Religious Freedom and Human Rights), the organization insisted that the refunded sum must include a 20% interest.

 

“We boldly assert that no justification or policy rationale can validate the forced collection of such exorbitant fees from traders who have been denied access to their legitimate businesses for over three months,” the statement read.

 

Intersociety further alleged that NAFDAC imposed three categories of extortionist fees: a ₦700,000 “Poor Storage Fee” on every market store owner, ₦200,000 for each packing store, and another ₦200,000 per unregistered product — including life-saving drugs and nutritional supplements.

 

According to the group, traders were also compelled to sign self-incriminating undertakings, which further raised concerns about the legality and fairness of the agency’s actions.

 

“Some traders paid as much as ₦1.4 million for having seven unregistered products, in addition to storage fees, all under pressure from the agency,” the group claimed.

 

NAFDAC, in its response to earlier allegations, acknowledged the imposition of the ₦700,000 penalty but insisted it was a significantly reduced fine from the original ₦7 million levied for regulatory violations.

 

Intersociety accused NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and other senior officials, including Dr. Martins Iluyomade (South-East Director), of overseeing what it described as militarized and extortionist enforcement tactics. The organization demanded their resignation to allow for an impartial investigation into the agency’s conduct at the Onitsha Drug Market.

 

The group also criticized the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly siding with NAFDAC and expressed concern over the continued use of the repealed Cyberstalking Act of 2015. Intersociety pointed out that the controversial Section 24 of the Act had been amended in 2024, stripping it of its oppressive provisions.

 

The organization reaffirmed its solidarity with over 90% of traders in the market, whom it described as legitimate dealers in certified pharmaceuticals and health products. It emphasized that its stance does not shield those involved in the sale of expired or counterfeit drugs.

 

In closing, Intersociety commended activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, former Governor Peter Obi, Senator Tony Nwoye, Hon. Afam Ogene, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor (International Human Rights Lawyer), and various media outlets for standing with the affected traders.