The federal high court in Abuja has ruled that the destruction of bottles of beer in some parts of the country is an economic sabotage.
The verdict of the court followed a suit marked
FHC/ABJ/CS/275/2021 filed by Sesugh Akume, an activist, against the
attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
There have been seizures and destruction of alcoholic
beverages by Hisbah, the Islamic police, in the northern part of the
country—mostly in Kano state.
In 2022, the Kano Hisbah destroyed over three million bottles of assorted beer as part of the state’s efforts “to address drug abuse, intoxication, and other social vices”.
In the verdict delivered by Emeka Nwite, a judge of the
federal high court in Abuja, on May 20, it was held that the EFCC should
prevent, investigate and prosecute destruction and wasting of alcoholic
beverages.
The judge said the EFCC is bound to put a stop to any act
that constitutes economic sabotage.
“It is the contention of the applicant that the 2nd
respondent (i.e. EFCC) ought to investigate the common act of Kano State
Government in seizing, breaking, and extravagantly pouring away the liquid
content of bottles, which forms part of the value-added tax being shared by the
federal government between it, the state(s) of the federation, and the local
government [system] inclusive of Kano state,” Nwite said.
“Now, economic sabotage is one which Nigeria as a ‘nation’
must not tolerate and must be frowned at indeed. The 2nd respondent is
duty-bound to put a check and stop any act of economic sabotage to the nation.
“However, such must be done according to laid-down rules and
procedures.
“This case (possibly) for the very first time in Nigeria
establishes that breaking bottles of alcoholic beverages and wasting its
content is an act of economic sabotage (along with its consequences) and
further establishes the duty of the EFCC to prevent, investigate, and prosecute
such actions.”
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