The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has demanded that the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) refund over N3 billion allegedly collected from traders at the Onitsha Drug Market.

In a statement released on Friday, the civil society organization insisted that the refund "must be attached with 20% interest," claiming that between 3,500 and 3,800 affected traders have been forced to pay various fees as of Thursday, May 29, 2025.

The controversy stems from NAFDAC's closure of the market for over three months following an enforcement operation. Social media personality VeryDarkMan (Martins Vicent Otse) and others had previously accused the agency of collecting N700,000 from each affected shop owner, which NAFDAC defended as a reduced penalty from an original N7 million fine for regulatory violations.

Multiple Fees Allegedly Imposed

According to Intersociety, NAFDAC imposed three categories of fees on the traders: a "Poor Storage Fee" of N700,000 for every market store owner, a separate N200,000 fee for packing store owners, and an additional N200,000 charge for each unregistered multinational drug product and its wholesaler.

"A wholesaler of such products who has complied with NAFDAC's extortionist conditions is likely to have paid the Agency as follows: N1.4m (for having not registered each of brands or products) if he or she has seven brands or products; another N200,000 (for poor storage) if he or she has a packing store and another N700,000 (for poor storage) if he or she has a market store," the organization alleged.

The statement was signed by Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Head of Intersociety, along with Chinwe Umeche, Human Rights Lawyer/Head of Democracy and Good Governance, and Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Head of Religious Freedom and Human Rights.

Call for Officials to Step Down

Intersociety called for NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, South-East Director Dr. Martins Iluyomade, and other top officials to "honorably step down to ensure unbiased, thorough and conclusive investigations" into the agency's activities at the Onitsha Drug Market.

While expressing solidarity with "over 90% of the traders in the Market who are genuine drug traders," Intersociety emphasized that they do not support those dealing in "expired, counterfeit, substandard and fake drugs or products."

The organization also criticized the Anambra State Police Command for its handling of the situation, particularly its alleged use of the Cyberstalking Act, which Intersociety claims has been amended in 2024 with "most of State terror provisions deleted."

The Onitsha Drug Market reportedly houses about 14,000 people, including approximately 7,000 business owners occupying about 5,000 market stalls and packing stores, plus an estimated 7,000 others comprising apprentices, salesgirls, hawkers, and other service providers.

Intersociety commended VeryDarkMan, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, Senator Tony Nwoye, Hon. Afam Ogene, and international Human Rights Lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor for their advocacy on behalf of the affected traders.

NAFDAC has not yet responded to these latest allegations and demands for refunds.