FCCPC applauds court rulings upholding consumer rights
Business/Economy
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has hailed two landmark court decisions in Nigeria that reinforce consumer rights and accountability in the marketplace.
The rulings, delivered by the Lagos and Enugu High Courts, underscore the strength of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, signaling a robust framework for protecting consumers and ensuring fair service delivery.
In a statement, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, praised the judiciary for its role in fostering consumer confidence.
“These judgments demonstrate the FCCPA’s effectiveness in empowering consumers to seek redress and holding service providers to lawful standards,” Bello said.
He commended consumers for pursuing justice through legal channels and urged them to report unfair practices via the FCCPC’s complaint portal, email, or offices nationwide.
In the first case, the Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice R. O. Olukolu, awarded ₦5 million in damages to DStv subscriber Mr. Ben Onuora against Multichoice Nigeria Limited. The court found that Multichoice unlawfully disconnected Onuora’s active subscription despite verified payment, causing significant inconvenience.
Citing Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA, the court ordered immediate reconnection and an extension of service to cover the disruption period.In the second case, the Enugu High Court, under Justice C. O. Ajah, declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy illegal and void.
The court awarded ₦500,000 in damages to passenger Mr. Tochukwu Odo, whose fare was withheld after an uncompleted trip. Referencing Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA, the court ruled that service providers must refund consumers for unrendered services, and policies denying refunds violate statutory rights.
The FCCPC reported facilitating over ₦10 billion in consumer recoveries across 30 sectors between March and August 2025, highlighting the growing efficacy of Nigeria’s consumer protection system. Bello emphasized that consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s regulatory efforts, sending a clear message that consumer rights violations carry serious consequences.
The FCCPC, Nigeria’s primary agency for consumer protection and competition regulation, continues to promote fair markets and ensure accountability across all sectors under the FCCPA 2018.
