Business

Competition Tribunal Orders Coca – Cola to pay N190 million misleading Fines Within 60 Days

Upholding the FCCPC’s five-year investigation, findings, and imposed penalties, the tribunal ruled that NBC’s conduct constituted misleading practices in violation of Nigerian law.

Published

1 year ago

April 29, 2025

OCHEFA

719 Views

The tribunal criticised the FCCPC’s acceptance of the post-judgment settlement, saying it conflicted with the commission’s regulatory obligations.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal ( CCPT) has ordered the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), also known as Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited to pay the N190 million administrative penalty imposed on the company for misleading packaging, within 60 days .

This was contrary to the settlement reached between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the NBC in the case that stemmed from an August 2024 announcement by the FCCPC in which it accused Coca-Cola and NBC of engaging in unfair marketing tactics and misleading consumers.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, April 28, a three-member panel led by presiding judge Thomas Okosun dismissed NBC’s application to adopt the settlement terms as judgment, describing it as an “attempt to arrest judgment.”

NBC’s counsel, O. Ogunride, had informed the tribunal of a settlement agreement reached with the FCCPC, requesting its adoption as a consent judgment.

The FCCPC’s representative, Abimbola Ojenike, confirmed the existence of the settlement, stating that discussions had been finalised with Akoji Achimugu, the commission’s legal director.

However, the tribunal pointed out that the terms of settlement were filed after judgment had been reserved and both parties had submitted their final written arguments.

Okosun ruled that “the notion of arrest of judgment is unknown to Nigerian law,” stressing that entering a settlement at this stage exceeded the FCCPC’s statutory authority and undermined its role as a regulator.

The tribunal criticised the FCCPC’s acceptance of the post-judgment settlement, saying it conflicted with the commission’s regulatory obligations.

The tribunal emphasized its constitutional duty to the public, asserting that it could not engage in private compromises between parties.

The panel also criticized the FCCPC’s sudden shift from its earlier position, noting that the proposed settlement declared “there is no penalty,” directly contradicting the commission’s findings from its investigation.

Consequently, the tribunal rejected the settlement and proceeded to deliver its final judgment.

Upholding the FCCPC’s five-year investigation, findings, and imposed penalties, the tribunal ruled that NBC’s conduct constituted misleading practices in violation of Nigerian law.

It affirmed that the ₦190 million administrative penalty was consistent with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

NBC’s appeal was dismissed for lack of merit, and the company was ordered to pay the fine within 60 days.

Up Next

FIRS Inaugurate E- Invoicing Committee for Tax Compliance

Don't Miss

Nigeria’s non-oil exports climbed by 24.7% to $1.79 billion in Q1 – NEPC

Click to comment

Business

RMRDC Taking 2027 Africa Raw Materials Summit To Kenya

Speaking with newsmen during the conclusion of the ARMS 2026, Ike-Muonso said Nigeria is the only county that has an organisation, government-owned organisation in the continent that is fully dedicated to adding value to raw materials.

Published

8 hours ago

October 21, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

• Photo: Hon.Minister, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), Dr Kingsley Udeh, declaring the event open.

The third edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS) 2027, would be used to garner support for setting up a centralised continental database for raw processing and value addition that is accessible to investors and industrialists.

The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, disclosed this during the ARMS 2026 Summit , held in Abuja, themed, ‘From African Feedstock To Factories.’

Building enthusiasm ahead of the next year’s event scheduled to hold in Kenya, East Africa, Ike-Muonso explained that the decision to take the summit to Kenya was reached following what he described as the East Africa country participants’ dominance in the first and second edition of the summit.

Ike-Muonso said Nigeria is the only county that has an organisation, government-owned organisation in the continent that is fully dedicated to adding value to raw materials.

Business

JPMorgan Eyeing Entry Into Nigeria’s Banking Industry

J.P. Morgan operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, providing financial services, investment banking, asset management, and commercial banking across major global markets in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Published

9 hours ago

October 21, 2026

OCHEFA

16 Views

JPMorgan Chase & Co has deposited N50 billion with the Central Bank of Nigeria as part of efforts to secure a merchant banking licence and expand its operations in Nigeria .

Bloomberg reported that the CBN deposit, valued at about $38m, meets a key requirement in the American lender’s application and signals its readiness to establish a licensed banking operation in Nigeria.

However, the payment does not guarantee approval, as the CBN is yet to make a final decision on the application.

People familiar with the process, said the deposit was one of the final regulatory requirements for the licence.

They added that the bank expects to obtain approval by the end of 2026 or in early 2027, subject to the regulator’s decision.

Business

How I steal ATM users’ PINs, defraud them

“I do go to the ATM machine to lie in wait for gullible customers who believe whatever I may tell them, and people that seek for help too,” he said.

Published

9 hours ago

October 21, 2026

OCHEFA

17 Views

A fraudster has confessed to the police how he stole bank customers’ PINs by pretending to help them operate automated teller machines

The suspect, whose identity was not disclosed in a statement by the Cross River State Police Command, said that he targeted customers who needed assistance at ATM points, withheld their cards and observed them entering their PINs before leaving the premises.

The Cross River State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed this in a video uploaded to the command’s Facebook page on Tuesday.

Eitokpah said the suspect was arrested on October 6, 2026, over alleged fraud involving unsuspecting ATM users.

Explaining the alleged method, the suspect said he approached customers who appeared to need help and exploited their willingness to trust him.

“I do go to the ATM machine to lie in wait for gullible customers who believe whatever I may tell them, and people that seek for help too,” he said.

He added, “So, if you call for help or assistance from me, what I do is I put the ATM on the cardless transaction mode and withhold your card. You’ll be thinking your card is inside, but your card is not inside.”

According to the suspect, he watched as customers selected the transactions they wanted to carry out and entered their PINs.

He said, “And you’ll choose a transaction which you want to perform. It’s either withdrawal or transfer or inquiry. By the time you click on any of them, ask you to put your password, to put your password, and confirm your password, I will leave the premises.”

Eitokpah said the suspect allegedly memorised customers’ PINs as they entered them, then left the ATM point with the information needed to carry out fraudulent transactions elsewhere.

The customers would subsequently discover that their cards were missing and their accounts had been debited.