The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday sealed off two additional real estate firms over alleged refund and property complaints by consumers.
The enforcement action, carried out alongside security operatives, was based on alleged non-compliance with compliance notices issued to the two entities — Ochacho Group Worldwide and Ti-Bilon.
The development comes weeks after the Commission sealed the office of Paradise Estate in Life Camp Extension, Abuja, over alleged violations of consumer rights.
What the FCCPC is saying
Addressing the press, Mr. Marvin Nadah, the FCCPC’s Deputy Director of the Surveillance and Enforcement Department, said the Commission had issued orders to the entities in line with relevant FCCPC laws, directing them to carry out certain actions.
- “However, these entities did not comply. As a result of the non-compliance, we have come to seal off the premises,” he said.
Explaining what transpired, the official said that, in one case, a consumer paid for properties that were not delivered, while in another case, the Commission, after reviewing the matter, requested and ordered the entity to refund the consumer.
He maintained that a statutory provision under the FCCPC Act, empowers the Commission to seal premises, among other actions, when there is non-compliance with a compliance notice that has been issued.
He highlighted that notices were issued to one of the companies in June last year, while the other had been under notice since 2024.
He also stressed that discussions had been held with the entities; however, they still failed to comply.
He hinted that prosecution remains possible if compliance is not achieved.
More insights
Nairametrics observed that FCCPC officials raided both offices and directed staff members to vacate the premises due to the firms’ failure to comply with its orders and refusal to honour invitations from the Commission.
Efforts to speak with officials of one of the real estate firms proved abortive, as the team lead was reportedly absent during the raid.
What You Should Know
Nairametrics previously reported that the Commission has sealed multiple facilities over similar complaints, including the TLSContact visa application centre in Abuja, over alleged obstruction of investigations and failure to address consumer complaints.
In another case, the FCCPC sealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric in Lagos over alleged consumer rights violations. IKEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Kingsley Okotie, said the issue stemmed from an isolated case involving a customer demanding multiple meters. He noted that implementing such a change is not a simple process.
“The non-compliance issue being referred to concerns a customer using his property as a hotel with a single maximum-demand meter, who later converted the property to residential use and demanded 20 non-maximum-demand meters for the same address,” he explained.
The Commission also inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce in Abuja, empowering it to seal shops, warehouses, and outlets found selling unsafe or substandard products as part of efforts to strengthen market oversight.
