Destroying Beer bottles is an Economic sabotage, court rules, and Directs that the EFCC intervenes in such actions.

Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that destruction of beer bottles in some part of the country is an Economic sabotage.

The verdict followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/275/2021 filed by Akume Sesugh, an activist  against the Attorney general of the federation, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

Hisbah the Islamic police have been seizing and destroying alcoholic beverages in the Northern part of the country, especially in Kano state.

In the year 2022, the Kano state Hisbah destroyed over 3million assorted alcoholic beer  bottles as part of the states efforts, in tackling drug abuse, intoxication and other social vices.

In the verdict which was 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 also prosecute defaulters that destroy alcoholic beverages.

The Judge stated that the EFCC is bound to put an end to any act that constitutes economic sabotage in the country.

Nwite Said "It is the contention of the applicant that the second respondent which is the EFCC ought to investigate the common act of the Kano state government in seizing, breaking and the extravagant pouring of the liquid content in the bottle, which forms part of the value-added tax being shared by the federal government between the states of the federation, and local government, including Kano state".

" Now economic sabotage is an act that should be frowned for, and in which must not be tolerated in Nigeria indeed. The second respondent (EFCC) is bound to put a check and also stop any form of Economic sabotage in the country".

"However such must be done according to laid down rules and procedures.

Possibly, this case for the very first time in Nigeria establishes that breaking bottles of alcoholic beverages and wasting it's content is an act of Economic sabotage (along with it's consequences) and establishes further the duty of the EFCC to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such actions".