Lagos, Enugu Court Judgments Strengthen Consumer Rights Enforcement — Tunji Bello

By our Correspondent

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has lauded recent landmark court decisions affirming consumer rights in Nigeria — notably, the Lagos High Court’s award of ₦5 million in damages against Multichoice Nigeria Limited, and the Enugu High Court’s ruling declaring Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund” policy illegal.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, commended the judiciary for delivering judgments that promote fairness, accountability, and consumer confidence in the marketplace. He stated that the rulings reflect the strength and effectiveness of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which empowers consumers to seek redress and mandates service providers to uphold lawful standards of fair service delivery.

Bello also applauded consumers who sought justice through legal and regulatory channels rather than resorting to self-help, emphasizing that the law provides multiple avenues for expressing grievances. He added that these rulings reaffirm the judiciary’s commitment to protecting consumer rights in Nigeria.

Between March and August 2025, the Commission facilitated recoveries exceeding ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors, highlighting the growing impact of Nigeria’s consumer protection framework. According to Bello, sustained judicial enforcement complements the FCCPC’s regulatory efforts and sends a strong message that violations of consumer rights carry real consequences. He encouraged consumers to continue reporting unfair practices through the Commission’s complaint portal, email, or any of its offices nationwide.

In one of the cases, the Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice R. O. Olukolu, awarded ₦5 million in general damages to a DStv subscriber, Mr. Ben Onuora, for the wrongful disconnection of his active subscription. The Court held that Multichoice acted unlawfully by cutting off service despite verified payment, causing inconvenience to the subscriber and his family. It ordered immediate reconnection and an extension of service for the period of disconnection, citing Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA 2018, which protect consumers’ rights to quality service and hold suppliers accountable for service failures.

In the second case, the Enugu High Court, presided over by Justice C. O. Ajah, ruled that Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy was unlawful and void under Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA 2018. The company was ordered to pay ₦500,000 in damages to a passenger, Mr. Tochukwu Odo, whose fare was withheld after an uncompleted trip. The Court affirmed that service providers must issue refunds when a service is not rendered and that any policy denying refunds contravenes statutory consumer rights.

The FCCPC serves as Nigeria’s primary agency for consumer protection and competition regulation under the FCCPA 2018. It promotes fair market practices, safeguards consumer interests, and ensures accountability across all sectors.