CPC dissociates self from N17m judgment against Coca-cola

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has dissociated itself from a publication suggesting that it secured a N17 million judgment against Cocacola from the Supreme Court of Nigeria. A statement released yesterday in Abuja and signed by the commission’s Director General, Babatunde Irukera, said prior to his appointment as Director General, was a partner at SimmonsCooper Partners, and in that role, represented the respondent in that appeal, being Mrs Titilayo Akisanya, in this case which emanated from the National Industrial Court as far back as 2012.

“The subject of the litigation appears to be a private employment dispute between Coca-cola and Akisanya. The conflict was not about, or on account of a consumer issue or failure,” the statement said.

The CPC said there was no underlying complaint or apparent statutory jurisdiction of the CPC.

“The only 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,” the statement said.

It said that though Cocacola, like any other company, 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.