Court backs FCCPC's right to investigate Air Peace over ticket prices

The Federal High Court in Abuja has supported the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in its right to look into consumer complaints about airline ticket prices. This came after Air Peace challenged the commission’s authority in court.

The FCCPC shared this news in a statement on Friday. The judgment was given by Justice B.F.M. Nyako on 29 June.

The case started when the FCCPC asked Air Peace for information in January 2025. This request followed many complaints from passengers about high airfares on some domestic routes in December 2024.

Air Peace argued that the FCCPC could not investigate airline ticket prices unless the President first activated the price regulation rules in the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.

The airline wanted the court to say that the commission did not have the authority to investigate this issue and asked for an order to stop it from doing so.

But Justice Nyako rejected the case, saying that the FCCPC acted within its rights when it sought information from the airline due to consumer complaints.

The court said that the commission’s actions were lawful under Sections 17, 32, and 33 of the FCCPA. It also stated that this did not mean price regulation or control according to Sections 88, 89, and 90 of the Act.

The court pointed out that the FCCPC did not order Air Peace to lower its fares or impose any pricing rules. Accepting Air Peace’s argument would stop the commission from looking into pricing complaints unless the President first activated the law, which the court said was not the intention of the lawmakers.

The FCCPC noted that this recent judgment follows a previous ruling from April 2026 by Justice James Omotosho. This earlier ruling was also about a suit from Air Peace against the commission’s right to investigate consumer complaints and issue summons.

Justice Omotosho dismissed Air Peace’s claims as well.

Responding to the latest judgment, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, called the decision an important confirmation of the commission’s legal role.

“The Court has again confirmed a key principle under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act. Investigating consumer complaints is completely different from regulating prices,” Mr Bello said.

He added that the commission was not trying to set or control Air Peace’s fares but was just exercising its legal right to collect information as part of its investigation into consumer complaints.

“An investigation is about finding facts. It does not mean someone is guilty or that there is an enforcement action. Every responsible regulator must be able to look into genuine complaints affecting consumers and markets without those inquiries being seen as findings of guilt, enforcement actions, or price regulation,” he said.

Mr Bello said this judgment gives legal clarity about the FCCPC’s powers to investigate while confirming that any price regulation must follow the legal rules set out in the FCCPA.

He reaffirmed the FCCPC’s promise to carry out its duties fairly, openly, and according to the law.