The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favour of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), affirming its power to probe consumer complaints regarding airline ticket pricing.
In a judgment delivered on June 29, Justice B.F.M. Nyako dismissed a lawsuit filed by Air Peace Limited, which had challenged the FCCPC’s right to investigate alleged sharp increases in domestic airfares.
The court clarified that the Commission’s investigative powers under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 are separate from any authority to regulate or fix prices.
The case arose after widespread consumer complaints about significant fare hikes on certain domestic routes during the 2024 Christmas travel season.
In response, the FCCPC sought information from Air Peace as part of its fact-finding process.
The airline argued that the Commission could not inquire into pricing matters unless the President activated specific price regulation provisions in the Act.
Justice Nyako rejected this position, ruling that the FCCPC acted lawfully under Sections 17, 32, and 33 of the Act.
The court emphasised that requesting information for an investigation does not equate to price control under Sections 88–90 of the legislation.
Accepting Air Peace’s view, the judge noted, would severely limit the Commission’s ability to address consumer concerns.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello welcomed the ruling as a significant affirmation of the agency’s mandate to protect consumers and promote fair competition.
He stressed that investigations are neutral fact-finding exercises, not enforcement actions or determinations of guilt.
This decision follows an earlier April 2026 ruling by another Federal High Court judge, which also dismissed a related challenge by Air Peace against the FCCPC’s powers to investigate and issue summons.
The FCCPC has ramped up enforcement across sectors including aviation, vowing to continue addressing exploitative practices while operating strictly within the rule of law.
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