The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has reserved judgment on Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited’s (CCNL) appeal against the N186 million penalty imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The penalty was due to alleged misleading labeling and marketing practices.
Key Points:
- Penalty Imposed: The FCCPC imposed a N186 million penalty on CCNL for violating Section 116(3) of the FCCPA.
- Appeal Grounds: CCNL’s legal team argued that the FCCPC’s orders were unfair, lacked jurisdiction, and that the company had obtained approval from NAFDAC.
- Tribunal’s Decision: The tribunal reserved judgment on the appeal, with the date for the judgment yet to be announced.
The FCCPC had accused CCNL and its sister company, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), of deceptive trade descriptions and unfair marketing tactics.
The Commission stated that NBC applied misleading labels to its Original Taste and Less Sugar products, violating the FCCPA.
CCNL’s legal team, led by Professor Gbolahan Elias SAN, argued that the FCCPC’s orders were unfair and that the company had obtained approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
However, the FCCPC’s lawyer, Abimbola Ojenike, countered that CCNL’s claims of procedural unfairness and bias were baseless.
The tribunal’s judgment will determine the outcome of the appeal and the fate of the N186 million penalty imposed on CCNL.
Source: Nairametrics
