Court Affirms FCCPC’s Right to Probe Airline Ticket Pricing Complaints

.Says seeking information in response to consumer complaints does not amount to price control

James Emejo in Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has again affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints over airline ticket pricing, dismissing a suit filed by Air Peace challenging the commission’s authority.

In a judgement delivered on June 29, Justice B.F.M. Nyako held that the FCCPC acted within the powers conferred on it under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 when it sought information from Air Peace following widespread complaints over sharp increases in domestic airfares.

The court ruled that the commission’s investigative mandate is separate from its statutory powers to regulate prices, stressing that seeking information in response to consumer complaints does not amount to price control.