The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has hailed “recent court rulings that uphold 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 decision declaring Peace Mass Transit’s ‘no refund’ policy unlawful.”
In a statement on Monday signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director, Corporate Affairs of the commission, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the judgments underscore the strength of Nigeria’s consumer protection framework and the effectiveness of judicial enforcement under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.
Mr. Bello commended the courts for ensuring “fair outcomes that strengthen consumer confidence and accountability in the marketplace.”
He stated that “the judgments show the strength of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, which empowers consumers to seek redress and requires service providers to meet lawful standards of fair service delivery.”
He also praised consumers for seeking justice through lawful channels rather than resorting to self-help, noting that “the law provides several ways for consumers to express their grievances and that these decisions confirm the courts’ willingness to protect consumer rights.”
According to him, “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.”
Mr. Bello added that “consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s regulatory work and reinforces the message that consumer-rights violations attract real consequences.”
He urged consumers to continue reporting unfair practices through the FCCPC complaint portal, email, or its offices nationwide.
Giving details of the rulings, the FCCPC 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, relying on Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA 2018, which safeguard consumers’ rights to quality service and make 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 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 held that service providers must refund consumers when a service is not rendered and that policies denying refunds breach statutory consumer rights.”
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting fair markets, safeguarding consumer rights, and ensuring accountability across all sectors.
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