The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that the lawyer sent to represent Sahad Supermarket & Stores in its  face-off with the commission was not familiar with the case.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the FCCPC had sealed off the head office of  popular Abuja supermarket over alleged customer extortion and lack of transparency in pricing.

Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the Acting Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, while sealing off the premises in Abuja, said the pricing disparity was an obnoxious practice which amounted to violation of rights under the FCCPA Act.

His words: “We called them to defend themselves but they failed to show up and in the long run, they sent a lawyer and the lawyer is not familiar with the case but we requested for names of people that we wanted to come and defend them.”

He said the pricing disparity contravened Section 155 (3) of the FCCPA while the fine amounted to N100 million or more, adding that “What we have found out that they are doing is misleading pricing and lack of transparency in their pricing which is against section 155 (3) of the FCCP Act.

“It is an obnoxious practice and amounts to violation of rights under the FCCPA.

“Section 155 of FCCPA states that any corporate person that contravenes this law is liable to a fine of N100 million or even more.

“We found out that they are contravening this law and made sure that we came to tell them that our mandate is very clear.

“What we have come here today to do is to make sure that they complied with the law.

“We called them to defend themselves but they failed to show up and in the long run, they sent a lawyer and the lawyer is not familiar with the case but we requested for names of people that we wanted to come and defend them.

“Those people refused to come and these are the people in charge of retail, fix prices on the computer system and shelves.

“We do not have a choice than to seal off the premises until they comply with the provisions of the law.” 

He said that the Commission would continue to protect the citizens in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda, adding that the commission would continue to monitor the supermarket to make sure they comply with the law.

Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, the Director Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, said that price tags on products on the shelves of the supermarket were different from prices at the pay point computers. Adeyinka said that even the same products and brand had different prices.

She said: “The same products, the same brand has different prices. One is N5,000 while one is N6,000.

“Imagine if you buy 10 pairs, that means you have been short-changed by N10,000.

“In this period, we want people to have maximum value for their money.” 

Mr. Salisu Zango, an official of Sahad Supermarket, admitted that the store had engaged in the practice but had since made amends. “We have corrected it,” he said.

To join our CITY LAWYER platform on WhatsApp, click here