16th February, 2024
By Ginika Okoye
The head office of Sahad supermarket/stores, one of the major retail stores in Abuja was sealed on Friday by operatives of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged extortion and lack of transparency in prices.
Sahad store was alleged to be engaged in misleading pricing and lack of transparency in their pricing contrary to section 155 (3) of the FCCP Act.
Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the Acting Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, led the enforcement team of the Commission that sealed off the popular store at Area 11 area of Abuja
Abdullahi said the action became necessary because the Supermarket was engaging in an obnoxious practice that amounted to a violation of rights under the FCCP Act.
He said the practice contravened Section 155 (3) of the FCCPA and the fine amounted to N100 million or more.
”It is an obnoxious practice and amounts to violation of rights under the FCCPA.
”Section 155 of FCCPA states that any corporate person that contravenes this law is liable to a fine of N100 million or even more.
”We found out that they are contravening this law and made sure that we came to tell them that our mandate is very clear.
”What we have come here today to do is to make sure that they complied with the law.
”We called them to defend themselves but they failed to show up and in the long run, they sent a lawyer and the lawyer is not familiar with the case but we requested for names of people that we wanted to come and defend them.
”Those people refused to come and these are the people in charge of retail, fix prices on the computer system and shelves.
”We do not have a choice than to seal off the premises until they comply with the provisions of the law,” Abdullahi said.
He said that the Commission would continue to protect the citizens in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda.
The acting executive vice chairman said the Commission would continue to monitor the supermarket to make sure they complied with the law.
Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, the Director Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, said that price tags on products on the shelves of the supermarket were different from prices at the pay point computers.
Adeyinka said that even the same products and brand had different prices.
”The same products, the same brand has different prices. One is N5,000 while one is N6,000.
”Imagine if you buy 10 pairs, that means you have been short-changed by N10,000.
”In this period, we want people to have maximum value for their money,” she said.
Mr Salisu Zango, an official of Sahad Supermarket, admitted that the store had engaged in the practice but had since made amends.
”We have corrected it,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supermarket premises was sealed off to avoid customers access. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)