By Excellence Oseose
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has affirmed the authority of area councils to handle environmental sanitation and health inspection matters, in a ruling that could affect regulatory enforcement against businesses operating in Abuja.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Y. Halilu on May 21, 2026, following an ex-parte motion, No. M/7935/2026, filed by H-Medix Pharmacy Ltd on March 13, 2026.
The court quashed criminal proceedings initiated against the applicant by the FCT Administration’s Health and Human Services Department at various magistrate courts, pending the determination of the motion on notice for judicial review.
It also restrained further action against the applicant under the Public Health Service Act 1958, National Environmental Health Practice Regulations 2024, National Policy on Food Safety and National Guidelines for Food Handlers Medical Test 2024.
H-Medix Pharmacy had argued that the FCT Administration lacked the statutory authority to enforce the laws in question, citing the absence of proper jurisdictional grounds, the lack of a statutory fee schedule and alleged violations of constitutional principles.
The applicant also maintained that policies could not substitute for enforceable laws.
Reacting to the ruling, the Global Integrity Crusade Network said the decision sent a strong message against arbitrary and overlapping demands that had subjected businesses in the FCT to multiple payments for the same services.
The group said the ruling aligned with concerns it raised in April 2026 over what it described as a growing institutional dispute between the FCT Administration and area councils, including the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
It had alleged that some businesses were required to pay levies to area councils before facing additional and higher demands from private consultants linked to the FCT Administration.
“Such practices had led to premature prosecutions and created an environment of uncertainty for operators trying to comply in good faith,” the group said.
It added that the ruling reinforced the role of area councils in managing local environmental sanitation and health inspections under Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution and its Fourth Schedule.
The network further argued that the decision would help address overlapping enforcement actions against businesses operating in Abuja.
Abuja Times reports that the ruling was made pending the determination of the substantive motion for judicial review, leaving the underlying legal dispute subject to further proceedings.
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