CPC denies N17mn judgement against Coca-Cola

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has denied having any link with a publication that suggested that it secured judgement in the sum of N17 million against Coca-Cola from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

According to a statement by the Council and made availablbe The Daily Times on Wednesday , the Director General, Consumer Protection Council, Mr. Babatunde Irukera said that the subject of the litigation appears to be a private employment dispute between Coca Cola and Akisanya.

According to the Council, the conflict was not about, or on account of a consumer issue or failure.

CPC stated that, “Although the story factually reports that the current Director General of the CPC, prior to his appointment as Director General, was a partner at SimmonsCooper Partners, and in that role, represented the Respondent in that Appeal (Mrs Titilayo Akisanya) in this case, which emanated from the National Industrial Court as far back as 2012.

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication suggesting that the CPC secured judgment in the sum of 17 million against Coca Cola from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

It noted that there was no underlying complaint or apparent statutory jurisdiction of the CPC, adding that the only child connection of the CPC to this case is that the court decision was delivered by the Supreme Court at a time after counsel of record, Babatunde Irukera was appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Director General of the CPC, even though he previously argued the case before this appointment.

CPC said, Coca Cola, like any other company operating in the country, is within the consumer protection jurisdiction of the CPC, this case was not about any such issue and the CPC neither contributed nor participated in the dispute or judicial process.

Mathew Dadiya Abuja