Lagos: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has taken decisive action by sealing the Lagos office of CASCO Electronics Co. Ltd. This move comes after the company allegedly failed to honor regulatory summons and compliance directives related to a consumer complaint.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Otti, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of FCCPC, stated that the enforcement action was initiated following a consumer complaint filed on January 16, 2025, regarding the sale of a reportedly defective solar battery. The commission had initiated an investigation and subsequently invited CASCO Electronics multiple times to address the allegations.
Otti explained that CASCO Electronics did not comply with the invitations, a summons, and a compliance notice, all issued under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018. The compliance notice detailed the nature of the alleged violation, necessary remedial steps, a timeline for compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance.
In her remarks, Otti emphasized the importance of CASCO Electronics responding to the commission’s inquiries. Despite the repeated attempts by FCCPC to engage the company, CASCO Electronics did not appear before the commission, leading to the enforcement action.
The enforcement action was carried out under Section 150(4)(a) of the FCCPA, 2018, which allows the FCCPC to seal premises when an entity fails to comply with a compliance notice. Otti clarified that the action is intended to be protective and corrective, rather than punitive.
The premises of CASCO Electronics will remain sealed until the commission is satisfied that the alleged breach has been fully remedied. Otti advised consumers to exercise caution when purchasing products and to ensure they have receipts and transaction records. She also urged businesses to promptly respond to correspondence from regulatory agencies to avoid similar situations.
Mr. Opara Uchenna-Martins, President of the Industrial Material Dealers Association, acknowledged the FCCPC’s responsibility to protect consumers and noted that while CASCO Electronics has a strong market reputation, its failure to respond to the commission’s invitations is concerning. He encouraged traders and business owners to cooperate with government agencies to resolve issues through appropriate channels.
Uchenna-Martins expressed hope for a quick and amicable resolution to the matter, highlighting the embarrassment such a situation can cause to a company.