• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Monday, June 23, 2025
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Tech | Business | Economy
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • StartUPs
      • Chidiverse
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
    • Appointment
  • TECHECONOMY TV
  • Apply
  • TBS
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • Chidiverse
  • News
  • Tech
    • DisruptiveTECH
    • ConsumerTech
    • How To
    • TechTAINMENT
  • Business
    • Telecoms
    • Mobility
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • StartUPs
      • Chidiverse
    • TE Insights
    • Security
  • Partners
  • Economy
    • Finance
    • Fintech
    • Digital Assets
    • Personal Finance
    • Insurance
  • Features
    • IndustryINFLUENCERS
    • Guest Writer
    • EventDIARY
    • Editorial
    • Appointment
  • TECHECONOMY TV
  • Apply
  • TBS
  • BusinesSENSE For SMEs
  • Chidiverse
No Result
View All Result
Tech | Business | Economy
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Business

Coca-Cola Takes FCCPC to Court Over N186m Fine, Outlines 15 Grounds for Appeal

by Joan Aimuengheuwa
December 12, 2024
in Business
1
Coca-Cola Takes FCCPC to Court Over N186m Fine, Outlines 15 Grounds for Appeal
Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola

UBA
Advertisements

Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) has outlined 15 arguments in an appeal against the N186,666,666.67 fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). 

The company insists that the penalty, related to alleged misleading marketing and labelling of its Coca-Cola Original Taste and Less Sugar variants, is unjustified and legally inadequate.

The FCCPC had accused Coca-Cola and its sister company, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), of deceiving consumers by presenting the two drink variants as identical in formulation. 

The commission stated that despite regulatory intervention, the companies failed to amend their marketing practices, prompting the fine under Section 116(3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

Coca-Cola was ordered to remit the penalty by 6 September 2024, a directive the company has contested.

In a notice of appeal filed on 5 September 2024, Coca-Cola challenged the penalty before the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, noting multiple grounds for its opposition.

Grounds for Appeal

The company’s legal counsel, led by Professor Gbolahan Elias SAN, listed 15 key reasons the tribunal should quash the FCCPC’s orders. These include:

  1. Fair Hearing Violation: Coca-Cola argued that the FCCPC acted as complainant, investigator, prosecutor, and judge, thereby breaching its right to a fair hearing.
  2. Lack of Jurisdiction: The company claimed the FCCPC lacked the authority to issue and enforce the orders, which it argued should fall under the tribunal’s purview.
  3. NAFDAC Approval: Coca-Cola emphasised that its product labelling adhered to the standards approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
  4. Differentiation Efforts: The company stated it had taken steps to distinguish the Original Taste variant from the Less Sugar variant, even after the FCCPC brought up the issue.
  5. No False Representation: Coca-Cola denied making any misleading or deceptive assertions about the taste, content, or formulation of its products.
  6. Absence of Unfair Tactics: It argued that it did not use coercion, pressure, or unfair methods in marketing its products.
  7. No Consumer Complaints: Coca-Cola stated that it had not been shown any consumer complaints about the quality or branding of its products.
  8. Pricing Allegations Unfounded: The company rejected claims that its pricing model indicated anti-competitive behaviour, noting the FCCPC’s own earlier findings that pricing patterns lacked sufficient evidence of abuse.
  9. Burden of Written Assurances: Coca-Cola criticised the FCCPC’s demand for “satisfactory written assurances” to prevent further violations as vague and burdensome.
  10. Abuse of Power: The company accused the FCCPC of overstepping its legal mandate by demanding audited financial statements without legal justification.
  11. Advertorial Compliance: Coca-Cola claimed it had voluntarily undertaken additional measures to differentiate the variants as a cooperative corporate entity.
  12. Process Errors: It alleged that the FCCPC’s legal officer, who issued the orders, was not part of the original investigation, violating procedural fairness.
  13. No Legal Violation: Coca-Cola argued that the alleged breaches mentioned by the FCCPC did not continue after corrective measures were implemented.
  14. Penalty Excessive: The company described the N186m fine as “outrageous and unjustifiable.”
  15. Pending Appeal Protections: Coca-Cola maintained that sanctions cannot be enforced until the tribunal resolves the issues raised in the appeal.

Tribunal’s Next Steps

In response to the appeal, the FCCPC has agreed to halt any enforcement actions until the case is decided. The tribunal has scheduled a hearing for 4 February 2025.

Loading

Advertisements
MTN ADS

0Shares
Tags: Coca-colaCoca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL)FCCPCNigerian Bottling Company (NBC)
Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan Aimuengheuwa

Joan thrives at helping individuals and businesses scale via storytelling...

Next Post
Aero Contractors, 12 Days of Christmas

Aero Contractors Unveils Festive "12 Days of Christmas" Campaign

Comments 1

  1. Pingback: Tribunal Upholds N190 Million Fine Against NBC for Misleading Coke Packaging

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recommended

Ondo State and Digital Skills

Ondo State urged to Equip Citizens with Digital Skills

2 years ago
Zambian ICT Officials Visit NITDA to Understudy Nigeria PKI Model

Zambian ICT Officials Visit NITDA to Understudy Nigeria PKI Model

2 years ago

Popular News

    Connect with us

    • About
    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • Contact Us

    © 2025 TECHECONOMY.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • News
    • Tech
      • DisruptiveTECH
      • ConsumerTech
      • How To
      • TechTAINMENT
    • Business
      • Telecoms
      • Mobility
      • Environment
      • Travel
      • StartUPs
        • Chidiverse
      • TE Insights
      • Security
    • Partners
    • Economy
      • Finance
      • Fintech
      • Digital Assets
      • Personal Finance
      • Insurance
    • Features
      • IndustryINFLUENCERS
      • Guest Writer
      • EventDIARY
      • Editorial
      • Appointment
    • TECHECONOMY TV
    • Apply
    • TBS
    • BusinesSENSE For SMEs

    © 2025 TECHECONOMY.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    Translate »
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.