FCCPC seals importer’s premises over defective battery

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has shut down a business facility operated by CASCO Electronic Co. Limited at Alaba International Market after receiving a consumer complaint against the electrical materials importing firm regarding the sale of a defective solar battery.

Addressing journalists at Alaba International Market on Tuesday, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of FCCPC, Mrs Olubunmi Otti, explained that the exercise followed a complaint by a consumer against the company in 2025.

Otti explained that the commission issued a compliance notice to the company, as permitted under Section 150(1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, adding that  the exercise was pursuant to Section 150(4)(a) of the FCCPC Act 2018.

“Following a consumer complaint against CASCO Electronic Co. Ltd regarding the sale of a defective solar battery paid for in February 2025, the FCCPC initiated an investigation and subsequently invited the respondent to appear before it. CASCO Electronics, however, declined to honour all invitations sent by the commission,” Otti said.

She stated that the commission subsequently invited the company to appear before it, but the firm failed to honour the summons.

“That notice, as required by Section 150(2), clearly sets out the nature of the non-compliance, the steps required to remedy it, the deadline for taking those steps, and the penalties for failure to comply,” she said.

She noted that despite being duly served with the compliance notice and given a reasonable period to take the required remedial steps, the undertaking had failed to comply with the notice.

“Consequently, and in direct exercise of FCCPC powers under Section 150(4)(a) of the FCCPA, 2018, which states that where an undertaking fails to comply with a compliance notice, the commission shall shut down or close any premises from which the notice continues to be breached until the breach or non-compliance is remedied, the FCCPC has today proceeded to seal these premises,” she added.

Otti stressed that the enforcement action is not punitive in the first instance but rather protective and corrective, maintaining that the sealing will remain in force until the commission is satisfied that the prior breach has been fully remedied “at which point a compliance certificate will be issued under Section 150(3)”.

She urged stakeholders to treat compliance notices with utmost seriousness, noting that the law leaves the commission with no room for discretion when a violation continues after a notice has been disregarded.

“We also urge consumers to exercise due diligence in all transactions and to verify any business thoroughly before committing their money,” she stated.

Also speaking, the President of Industry Material Dealers Association, Mr Opara Martins, said he couldn’t stop the government from carrying out its duties, adding that he was ignorant of the reason FCCPC was at the premises.

He said, “But overall, we cannot stop them from carrying out their duty because I know it has to do with protecting the consumer. So that the consumer will feel protected. Alaba is not known for some of these things. CASCO is a reputable company. But I just believe maybe they have one or two issues.

“The only problem is they have refused to come and answer the FCCPC. So, I know in due time we shall rectify this problem. Casco is one of our stakeholders in Alaba here.”

The General Manager of Casco Electronics Co. Ltd, Tochukwu Munachukwu, said, “It’s a surprise to me that in broad daylight, I find out that there are some people from FCCPC who have come to my office to carry out enforcement. And the funny thing is that I did not receive several letters they claimed to have served me. If I see any letter, I am seriously a law-abiding citizen. If I see any letter, I will comply. I know what the letter is all about. I know what the government is all about. So, if any invitation is given to me, whether by phone or by any other means, I will comply. And I will come and pick up the letter and ask what the problem is. It’s a civil thing and something that has to be resolved. It’s a business transaction; it’s not a murder case. It’s something that I need to discuss around the world.”