The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has applauded recent court judgments affirming the rights of Nigerian consumers, including the Lagos High Court’s ₦5 million award against Multichoice Nigeria Limited and the Enugu High Court’s ruling that struck down Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund” policy as illegal.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, described the decisions as a strong validation of Nigeria’s consumer protection framework and a demonstration of the judiciary’s resolve to uphold justice under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
Bello commended the courts for “delivering fair outcomes that strengthen consumer confidence and promote accountability in the marketplace.” He emphasized that the judgments highlight the strength of the FCCPA, which empowers consumers to seek redress and mandates service providers to maintain lawful standards of service delivery.
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The FCCPC boss also lauded Nigerian consumers for pursuing justice through lawful means rather than resorting to self-help, noting that the law provides clear channels for lodging complaints. “These decisions confirm the courts’ readiness to protect consumers against abuse and negligence,” he said.
According to Bello, the Commission recovered more than ₦10 billion in consumer refunds between March and August 2025 across 30 sectors, underscoring the increasing efficiency of Nigeria’s consumer protection system. He added that consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s regulatory work and serves as a warning that violations of consumer rights attract real consequences.
He urged consumers to continue reporting unfair business practices through the FCCPC complaint portal, email, or its offices nationwide.
Providing details of the rulings, the FCCPC explained that the Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice R. O. Olukolu, awarded ₦5 million in general damages to DStv subscriber Mr. Ben Onuora for wrongful disconnection of his active subscription. The court found Multichoice guilty of unlawfully cutting off service despite verified payment, causing significant inconvenience to the claimant and his family.
Justice Olukolu ordered Multichoice to reconnect the subscriber immediately and extend his subscription period to cover the downtime, citing Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the FCCPA 2018, which guarantee consumers’ rights to quality service and hold suppliers accountable for interrupted or defective delivery.
In a separate case, the Enugu High Court, presided over by Justice C. O. Ajah ruled that Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy was illegal under Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA 2018. The company was ordered to pay ₦500,000 in damages to passenger Mr. Tochukwu Odo, whose fare was unlawfully withheld after a trip that was not completed.
The court held that service providers must refund customers for unrendered services, declaring that any policy denying refunds constitutes a breach of statutory consumer rights.
Reaffirming its stance, the FCCPC said it remains committed to ensuring fair market practices, protecting consumer interests, and strengthening accountability across all sectors of the economy.
