Federal High Court Calabar Dismisses Fundamental Rights Suit Against Pharmacy Council, NSCDC
The Federal High Court 1, sitting in Calabar, has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement action brought by Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube and her associates against the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The applicants, alleged to be operating unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets, filed Suit No: FHC/CA/FHR/39/2025 claiming that officials of PCN and NSCDC violated their fundamental rights by sealing their premises and sought damages for the alleged infringement.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu held that the claimants failed to substantiate their allegations, ruling in favour of the respondents. “The applicants have failed to prove their claims against the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and other respondents. Accordingly, the case is dismissed,” the judge stated.
Counsel for the PCN, Mr. Mfena Gar, explained that the matter stemmed from a related criminal case in which the applicants accused the Council of rights violations. He noted that the claimants, who are not licensed pharmacists, were found to be running two illegal pharmacies in Calabar stocked with prescription medicines without PCN registration.
Gar added that the PCN sealed the premises, effected arrests, and commenced prosecution, stressing that the applicants could not demonstrate any breach of their rights. The respondents in the suit included the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, NSCDC Headquarters Abuja, and NSCDC Cross River State Command.
Meanwhile, in the criminal case (Suit No: FHC/CA/76C/2025) between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube, Justice Ojukwu adjourned proceedings to June 1, 2026, for judgment on the defence application.
