The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has hailed two recent High Court rulings in Lagos and Enugu states as significant victories that reinforce consumer protection and accountability in the Nigerian marketplace.
The Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, welcomed the judgments on Monday, stating they strengthen consumer confidence and demonstrate the robustness of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.
In one case, the Lagos High Court awarded ₦5 million in general damages against Multichoice Nigeria Limited.
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Justice R. O. Olukolu found that Multichoice acted unlawfully by wrongfully disconnecting the service of a DStv subscriber, Ben Onuora, despite verified payment.
The court ordered immediate reconnection and an extension to cover the period of disruption, holding that the company breached the consumer’s right to quality service as protected by Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA 2018.
In the second judgment, the Enugu High Court, presided over by Justice C. O. Ajah, declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy as illegal and void.
The court ordered the company to pay ₦500,000 in damages to a passenger, Tochukwu Odo, whose fare was withheld after his trip was not completed.
The ruling affirmed that service providers must refund consumers when a service is not rendered, citing Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA 2018.
Bello commended the courts for delivering fair outcomes and praised the consumers for utilising lawful channels to pursue justice.
He emphasised that these decisions confirm the judiciary’s willingness to protect consumer rights and compel service providers to meet lawful standards.
The FCCPC head also disclosed that the Commission’s regulatory work is producing results, having facilitated the recovery of more than ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors between March and August 2025.
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Bello urged consumers to continue reporting unfair practices via the FCCPC’s official channels, noting that consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s work and sends a clear message that violations of consumer rights will incur real consequences.
The FCCPC is Nigeria’s principal agency responsible for consumer protection and competition regulation under the FCCPA, 2018.
