The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Nigeria has launched its practice rules and its hearing room dedicated to handling appeals on competition and consumer protection-related issues. The CCPT is a specialised judicial entity consisting of the chairman and six other members from the six geopolitical regions, whose primary function is to resolve cases of competition and consumer protection. Speaking at the launch, the chairman of the CCPT, Saratu Shafii, stated that the newly launched practice rules would provide a framework for filing cases related to consumer protection.
The tribunal has already started hearing cases and has made landmark decisions, which according to Saratu, “have heralded our arrival on the Nigerian judicial scene as a reliable outlet to resolve competition and consumer protection matters.” The establishment of the tribunal is considered one of the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in his commitment to protecting the Nigerian consumer and ensuring a fair business environment.
While the CCPT’s work primarily centres on hearing appeals from the Federal Competition and Consumer Commission, the establishment of the tribunal has brought a unified set of rules that govern competition and consumer protection. Previously, these rules were industry-specific codes. For instance, mergers and acquisitions were regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the FCCPC now oversees them.
The CCPT has the power to review decisions and hear appeals on matters relating to competition and consumer protection, and it is part of the government’s efforts to promote ethical practices in business and trade in Nigeria. The launch of the practice rules and the Richard Adebayo hearing room is considered a step forward in ensuring consumer and producer protection in the marketplace by prohibiting unethical practices designed to garner market share rather than honest competition.
The CCPT’s establishment is in line with Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which helps to combat unfair competition, unlawful mergers, market dominance, price fixing, and other unethical practices. The honourable minister for industry, trade and investment, Richard Adebayo, who the hearing room is named after, acknowledged and appreciated the honour and encouraged the tribunal to continue its commendable work in protecting consumers and promoting fairness and competition in Nigeria.
Overall, the CCPT is empowered to hear appeals from Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and all specific sector regulators on matters of consumer protection and competition law in Nigeria, with jurisdiction throughout the entire federation.
