The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has described the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, as a pivotal institution for safeguarding Nigeria’s business environment and preserving the integrity of the nation’s marketplace.
Justice Kekere-Ekun made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering the keynote address at the opening of a three-day Competition and Consumer Protection Law Conference at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Jabi, Abuja.
A statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the conference brought together senior judicial officers, regulators, legal practitioners, scholars and policy experts to deliberate on the evolving landscape of competition and consumer protection law in Nigeria.
According to the Chief Justice, the FCCPC plays a central role in maintaining fairness in the marketplace through the enforcement of competition and consumer protection laws.
“As the statutory authority responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws, the Commission plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of the marketplace,” she said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that competition and consumer protection law has become one of the most dynamic areas of legal practice globally, driven by developments in digital markets, complex corporate structures and the growing need to protect consumer rights.
“Across jurisdictions, competition and consumer protection law has rapidly evolved into one of the most dynamic and litigated fields of legal practice,” she said.
She explained that as markets become increasingly sophisticated, courts are likely to witness a rising number of disputes involving regulatory enforcement, competition issues and consumer rights.
The CJN therefore stressed the need for continuous collaboration between regulators and the judiciary to ensure effective interpretation and enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, 2018.
“Continuous dialogue and knowledge exchange between regulators and the judiciary are indispensable,” she said.
Also speaking, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, emphasised the need for greater awareness and understanding of competition and consumer protection laws among businesses, regulators and members of the judiciary.
“Competition and consumer protection law often finds its most practical expression in the courtroom. It is there that the legal principles governing markets are tested, clarified and given authoritative interpretation,” he said.
Bello explained that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, 2018 created a comprehensive national framework to regulate anti-competitive conduct, protect consumers, review mergers and acquisitions and strengthen market oversight in Nigeria.
He also highlighted how rapid technological innovation and the expansion of digital commerce are reshaping modern markets.
“Technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions and increasingly complex corporate structures continue to reshape how markets function,” he said.
According to him, the growing complexity of market disputes means courts are increasingly required to assess economic evidence, expert testimony and detailed market data in determining whether certain business practices undermine competition or harm consumer welfare.
The conference is expected to deepen judicial understanding of competition and consumer protection law while strengthening collaboration between the courts and regulatory agencies responsible for maintaining fair and competitive markets in Nigeria.
The conference was attended by several prominent figures from the legal and regulatory community, including the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello; Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, Justice M. L. Shuaibu; Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division, Justice James Gambo Abundaga; and Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Justice A. B. Mohammed.
Also in attendance was the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice B. A. Adejumo; FCCPC Executive Commissioner, Operations, Mr. Louis Odion; former Attorney-General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo; former FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Irukera; and Prof. Joseph Abugu, SAN.
