Breaking Beer Bottles is Economic Sabotage, Federal High Court Holds
In judgement delivered by the Honourable Mr Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja (Court 9) on May 20, 2024—whose certified true copy was obtained today—the court declared that breaking bottles of alcoholic beverages and wasting the contents, for whatever reason, is economic sabotage.
According to Sesugh Akume, Esq., the applicant in the suit, “On pages 13 (paragraphs 4 and 5) and 14 (paragraph 1) of the judgement in the matter of Sesugh Akume v. Attorney-General and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/275/2021), the court held that:
‘…it is the contention of the applicant that the 2nd respondent [i.e., the EFCC] ought to investigate the common act of the 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.
‘Now, economic sabotage Nigeria as a ‘nation’ must not be tolerated and must indeed be frowned at. The second respondent is duty-bound to put a check on 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 their contents 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.
I thank learned counsel Rodney Adzuanaga, Esq., Daniel Awuapila, Esq., and Gwaza Shenge, Esq., for their legal skills and diligence in pursuing this matter.” Mr. Akume added.
