A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints over airline ticket prices, dismissing a suit filed by Air Peace challenging the commission’s authority.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, the court ruled that the FCCPC acted within the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 when it requested information from Air Peace following complaints over sharp increases in domestic airfares in December 2024.
The court clarified that the commission’s investigation did not amount to regulating or fixing airline fares, but was simply part of its responsibility to investigate consumer complaints.
“The Commission did not direct Air Peace to reduce its fares, prescribe a pricing formula or impose any price,” the court held.
Justice Nyako also ruled that requiring presidential approval before investigating pricing complaints would weaken the FCCPC’s ability to protect consumers and was not the intention of the law.
Reacting to the judgment, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, described the ruling as a major affirmation of the commission’s statutory powers.
“Investigating consumer complaints is fundamentally different from regulating prices,” Bello said.
He added that the FCCPC would continue to investigate credible consumer complaints fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
The ruling follows an earlier judgment in April 2026, which also affirmed the FCCPC’s authority to investigate consumer complaints and issue summons in carrying out its statutory duties.
Source: Federal High Court/FCCPC.
