A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps over the sealing of two alleged illegal drug stores in Cross River State.
The suit, instituted by Ezea Asidora and others under case number FHC/CA/FHR/39/2025, challenged the enforcement operations carried out on March 10 and March 18, 2025, claiming that the closure of the premises violated their constitutional rights.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ruled that the applicants failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that their fundamental rights had been infringed upon.
The court held that the regulatory agencies acted within the scope of their statutory responsibilities after suspecting that the operators were not duly registered or licensed in line with the provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act.
According to the judge, the burden of proof rested on the applicants, adding that the evidence presented before the court was insufficient to support their claims.
“The applicants have failed to establish the violation of their rights, and the suit is dismissed,” the court ruled.
Justice Ojukwu further stressed the importance of regulatory enforcement within the pharmaceutical sector, noting that unlicensed drug operations pose serious risks to public health and safety.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned a related criminal matter, FRN v. Ezea Asidora (FHC/CA/76C/2025), to June 1 for continuation of proceedings and ordered that the defendant be produced before the court.
The ruling is seen as part of ongoing efforts by regulatory and security agencies to strengthen enforcement against illegal drug distribution and uphold pharmaceutical regulations across the country.