Court asks EFCC to prevent beer bottles destruction, says it’s economic sabotage

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.

TheCable sighted some parts of the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment on Friday.

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.”