Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has rejected Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited’s appeal against a N186 million penalty imposed for its labelling and marketing practices.
The FCCPC had accused Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and its sister company of misleading trade descriptions and employing unfair marketing tactics in their products, Original Taste and Less Sugar. Coca-Cola appealed the decision, describing the penalty as “outrageous” and alleging that the FCCPC lacked jurisdiction to impose and enforce such orders.
In its response, the FCCPC argued that Coca-Cola’s claims of procedural unfairness and bias are baseless, emphasizing that the company was provided with extensive opportunities for a fair hearing. The Commission also maintained that it has the statutory authority to issue and enforce orders and that its findings on Coca-Cola’s products are valid, legally justifiable and supported by evidence.
The FCCPC’s decision is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Commission against multinational companies operating in Nigeria. Critics argue that these actions may be counterproductive to the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment
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