The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has warned Air Peace against obstructing the ongoing inquiry into alleged exploitative ticket pricing and other potential violations of consumers’ rights.
This is according to a statement on Sunday by the Commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
The FCCPC’s inquiry into the airline was prompted by a surge of complaints from passengers about unfair pricing, flight cancellations, and other practices potentially harmful to consumers.
The commission conducted a meeting with Air Peace on December 3, 2024, to address the concerns raised in numerous petitions.
The FCCPC said the session, which was held in camera, was intended to protect the confidentiality of the investigation.
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However, the commission noted that “shortly after the meeting, leaks surfaced in the media, misrepresenting the proceedings and making unfounded claims.”
Recall that the FCCPC had clarified the situation on December 5, reiterating that its investigation into Air Peace was ongoing.
In the statement, the commission said: “The inquiry is still ongoing, and the public should be wary of manufactured news. The report claiming that Air Peace was not under investigation was not disseminated through our official communication platforms.”
Ijagwu said the leaks quoted Air Peace’s Chairman, Mr Allen Onyema, making various statements, including a boast that he could “shut down the airline” as a favour to the nation, but conveniently omitted other comments that raised concerns.
The FCCPC noted that Onyema’s remarks appeared to be intended to undermine the investigation and distract from the core issues.
The airline had earlier, in a press conference on Friday, asserted that only the aviation regulatory agency had the authority to investigate its affairs, an argument that the FCCPC dismissed as a misunderstanding of both the legal and moral framework surrounding consumer rights.
“The rights of passengers are inalienable and guaranteed under the FCCPA,” the FCCPC countered, emphasising that the Commission has the legal mandate to investigate pricing practices and other consumer-related issues in all sectors, including aviation.
The Commission pointed to Section 17(e) of the FCCPA 2018, which gives it the authority to conduct inquiries when necessary or desirable in connection with any matter falling under its purview.
Further reinforcing its mandate, the FCCPC cited Section 127(1)(a) of the FCCPA, which empowers it to ensure that pricing practices across all sectors, including aviation, are fair and non-exploitative.
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