By Jennifer Inah
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has commended recent court rulings upholding consumer rights across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission highlighted two landmark judgments — the Lagos High Court’s award of ₦5 million in damages against Multichoice Nigeria Limited and the Enugu High Court’s decision declaring Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund” policy unlawful.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, praised the courts for ensuring fair outcomes that strengthen consumer confidence and accountability in the marketplace.
He noted that the judgments reaffirm the robustness of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which empowers consumers to seek redress and compels service providers to meet lawful standards of fairness and service delivery.
Mr Bello also commended consumers for pursuing justice through lawful means rather than resorting to self-help, adding that the law provides multiple avenues for lodging complaints and seeking redress.
According to the statement, “Between March and August 2025, the Commission facilitated recoveries of more than ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors, demonstrating the growing effectiveness of Nigeria’s consumer protection system.”
The FCCPC chief stated that consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s regulatory work and reinforces the message that violations of consumer rights attract serious consequences.
He further urged consumers to continue reporting unfair practices via the FCCPC complaint portal, email, or any of its offices nationwide.
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Providing details of the cases, the Commission said, “In one of the two decided 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 found that Multichoice acted unlawfully by cutting off service despite verified payment, causing inconvenience to the claimant and his family.
It ordered immediate reconnection and an extension to cover the period of disconnection, citing Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA 2018, which safeguard consumers’ rights to quality service and hold suppliers liable for interrupted or defective delivery.
“In the second case, the Enugu High Court, under Justice C. O. Ajah, ruled that Peace Mass Transit’s ‘no refund after payment’ policy was illegal and void under Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA 2018,” the statement continued.
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 further held that service providers must refund consumers when services are not rendered, adding that policies denying refunds contravene statutory consumer rights.