Onitsha traders demand N5bn over shops closure

Traders at Udoka Line Section of the popular Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State have sued the Caretaker Committee leadership of the market led by, Chukwulota Ndubuisi, over “unlawful closure” of the section of the market.
The traders, numbering over 100 brought the matter before the Onitsha High Court, during their pre-trial hearing in the case between Udoka Line traders versus Ogbo-Ogwu Caretaker Committee leadership over alleged infringement on their fundamental human rights and other infractions.
They are seeking the enforcement of their fundamental rights to property and dignity and reopening of their shops closed since August 2024, and also claiming the sum of N5 billion for damages.
The traders are also seeking several reliefs from the court, including a declaration that the closure of the section of the market since August 2024, was illegal, unconstitutional and in contravention of their fundamental rights to personal liberty and dignity guaranteed by sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 5, 6 and 23 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
They also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further closure of the market.
The applicants asked the court to “direct the respondents to pay compensatory damages in the sum of N5 billion to the applicants for the illegal closure of their shops and the carting away of their goods.”
The court, after the pre-trial briefing adjourned the matter and announced that the case will commence on February 3, 8, 12, 19, 23 and 26, 2026 respectively for further hearing.
Speaking to South-East Punch at the court premises on Tuesday, after the case was adjourned to February 3, 2026, the aggrieved traders lamented that the incident has seriously affected them in such a way that they can no longer afford to feed themselves and their families.
Speaking further on behalf of the Udoka Line Traders, Emmanuel Ozoemenam, called on the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to urgently intervene and caution the caretaker chairman, noting that the situation has turned them to beggars amidst millions of naira indebtedness.
He said, “As we speak right now, we are been mocked and harassed on a daily basis by the leadership of the market, led by the caretaker committee chairman. The caretaker committee chairman of the market, sometime in August 2024, entered into the Udoka Line Section and closed the shops on flimsy and unverifiable reasons. This incident happened before the raid by NAFDAC.
“We were in the market doing our normal legitimate activities, but to our disappointment, on that day, the market chairman invaded the section with some groups and unlawfully locked the shops over inexplicable reasons.
“Several interventions by well-meaning individuals and public officials, including the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, proved abortive; hence we approached the court to seek redress.
“We, over 130 of us trading in Udoka Line of the market are currently displaced financially. Our lives are no longer the same again. We are completely down financially. We now trade in fears. Hunger and persistent hardship have become part of our existence.
“Nothing is working again for us in the market. All is not well for us again at the moment, and the anger, confusion and frustration may trigger us and other traders in Onitsha market as a whole to work against the governor’s reelection bid ahead in the forthcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state.
We are in court to seek redress over the unlawful closure of Udoka Line by the caretaker chairman of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, Onitsha. What the members are suing for is a fundamental human rights case and other infractions against the chairman.”
Ozoemenam also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene into the crisis to enable them provide for their families.
However, efforts to speak to the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, Chukwulota Ndubuisi, who was also present at the court premises proved abortive as he declined interview.
culled from punch