The Federal Government has dragged the
Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited and
Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and their Chief
Executives before a Federal High Court in Abuja
for criminal breach of the Consumer Protection
Council (CPC) Act.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr.
Mohammed Bello Adoke, in the charges filed
before the court, has preferred a one-count
charge against NBC and its Managing Director
and a two-count charge against Coca-Cola
Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive, making
them liable to jail terms ranging from three to
five years, if found guilty.
The Federal Government in the charge against
NBC and its Managing Director, Mr. Ben Langat,
by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the
Federation on behalf of the Attorney General of
the Federation, alleged that the two accused
persons have committed an offence by violating
the Orders of the Consumer Protection Council
by “deliberately failing, refusing and/or
neglecting to comply with the Council’s Orders
duly made and served on you and thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of
the Consumer Protection Council Act, Cap C.
25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and
punishable under the same section”
In the first count of the two-count charge
against Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its
Managing Director, Mr. Adeola Adetunji, the
government alleged that the two accused
persons have committed an offence by refusing
to “attend the hearing of the Consumer
Protection Council held in Abuja in relation to
investigation of violation of product quality
standard under the Consumer Protection
Council Act after Summons was duly issued
and served on you and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 18 of the Consumer
Protection Council Act Cap C. 25 of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable
under the same section.”
Coca-Cola and its Chief Executive, as in the
case of NBC, were also charged for violating
the Orders of the Council by deliberately
refusing to comply with the Order duly made
and served on them,thereby committing an
offence contrary to Section 21 of the Consumer
Protection Council Act, Cap C. 25, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable
under the same section.
The two criminal cases have been listed before
Justice E.S. Chukwu of the Federal High Court
8, Abuja and a date is yet to be fixed for the
hearing of the cases.
CPC has earlier this year found NBC and Coca-
Cola culpable following its findings from the
administrative panel set up over a consumer
complaint regarding two half-empty cans of
Sprite manufactured by Nigerian Bottling
Company (NBC) Limited under the licence and
authority of Coca Cola Nigeria Limited.
The Council’s Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki,
had at a media briefing soon after the
conclusion of the investigation, stated that
while NBC cooperated by providing information
to the administrative panel of investigation,
Coca-Cola refused to attend and testify.
Mrs. Atoki disclosed that the panel, after an
extensive investigation, substantiated the
allegation of product defect and a violation of
the Consumer Protection Council’s Act based
on which several recommendations were made
and Orders thereto issued to Coca-Cola and
NBC.
According to her, CPC, as part of the
recommendations, ordered Coca-Cola Nigeria
Limited and the Nigerian Bottling Company to
subject their manufacturing processes to its
inspection for a period of 12 months to ensure
compliance with laid down safety standards
and regulations, while demanding necessary
compensation for the consumer/complainant.
Additionally, Coca-Cola and NBC were also
directed to formulate a shelf-life policy for their
products; to review their Consumer Grievance
Resolution Policy; supply chain management
policy, product traceability policy; and to
present written assurances that they will refrain
from a continuation of any conduct which is
detrimental to the interest of consumers.
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