Court Declares Breaking, Wasting Content Of Alcoholic Bottles As Illegal, Economic Sabotage
The judgement was delivered 20th of May 2024, but certified true copy was obtained on Friday August 16, 2024.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that wasting the contents or breaking the bottles of alcoholic beverages for whatever reason is an economic sabotage.
The court gave the judgement in a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of Court 9, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/275/2021 between Sesugh Akume v Attorney-General, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as 1st and 2nd Defendants.
The court held that the 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, state[s] of the federation and the local government [system] inclusive of Kano State was a economic sabotage.
The judgement was delivered 20th of May 2024, but certified true copy was obtained on Friday August 16, 2024.
The court held that: “…it is the contention of the applicant that the 2nd respondent [ie 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, state[s] of the federation and the local government [system] inclusive of Kano State.
“Now, economic sabotage 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 procedure,” the court held.
Reacting to judgement in a statement, the Applicant (Sesugh Akume) said “this case (possibly) 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 its consequences).
He stated that case has further establishes the duty of EFCC to prevent or investigate and prosecute such actions of economic sabotage against Nigeria by any state government.
“I thank learned counsel, Rodney Adzuanaga, Esq., Daniel Awuapila, Esq., and Gwaza Shenge, Esq., for their legal skills and diligence in pursuing this matter.”
