Prominent human rights activist and lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor has appealed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to ensure fairness in its enforcement efforts at the Onitsha Ogbogwu Market, urging the agency to avoid punishing legitimate traders in its fight against counterfeit drugs.
In a statement signed on Tuesday, Ejiofor expressed his strong support for NAFDAC’s campaign to eradicate fake drugs, acknowledging the grave dangers posed by the production and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
“The acts of unscrupulous individuals profiting at the expense of innocent lives is an evil that must be eradicated. Every well-meaning Nigerian should applaud this bold initiative,” he stated.
However, Ejiofor stressed that the eradication of counterfeit drugs must maintain the principles of justice and precision. He emphasized the necessity of properly profiling offenders and their accomplices, a point he argues security agencies frequently overlook.
“Wrongly punishing innocent citizens for crimes they know nothing about has severe legal and moral consequences,” he warned.
Furthermore, Ejiofor referenced historical legal doctrines such as one articulated by English jurist William Blackstone in 1769, “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.”
He emphasized that meticulous investigations must precede any punitive measures against individuals.
“Concerns surrounding the conduct of security operatives at the Ogbogwu Market have also emerged. The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) reported allegations of looting and other criminal activities by security personnel during their operations at the market. They have called upon NAFDAC to account for hundreds of millions of naira worth of goods allegedly stolen during these security raids. A petition addressing these concerns was submitted to NAFDAC’s Director-General and other key authorities, but there has yet to be an official response, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
“InterSociety has warned that the ongoing closure of the Onitsha Drug Market and adjacent markets could lead to severe socio-economic challenges in Anambra State, already grappling with significant security issues. They pointed out that a similar operation in Lagos was conducted more swiftly, allowing for the timely reopening to legitimate traders and demonstrating that law enforcement can effectively combat crime while protecting innocent business owners.”
Ejiofor urged NAFDAC to enhance its investigative strategies, advocating for the use of existing surveillance cameras in the Onitsha Market to help identify the true perpetrators. “Innocent traders should not be made to suffer due to the actions of a criminal minority,” he stated.
He also called for thorough investigations into the reported looting and unlawful shop break-ins involving security operatives, asserting that justice cannot be achieved through illegal actions.
In a final plea to those engaged in the sale of counterfeit drugs, Ejiofor urged them to halt their activities immediately, emphasizing that their actions endanger countless lives and merit the harshest penalties under the law.
Ejiofor further reiterated the need for fairness and due process in NAFDAC’s mission to eliminate counterfeit drugs, calling for the immediate reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market while ensuring that only the guilty are held accountable.
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