The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has confirmed that a Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed its statutory authority to investigate consumer complaints related to Air Peace's ticket pricing. The ruling, delivered by Justice B.F.M. Nyako, dismissed a suit filed by Air Peace that challenged the Commission's investigative powers over alleged exploitative pricing.
Court distinguishes investigation from price regulation
The court held that the FCCPC's power to investigate pricing complaints is separate from its authority to regulate prices. It clarified that requesting information from an airline during an investigation does not amount to imposing price controls. According to the FCCPC statement, Justice Nyako ruled that the Commission acted within its investigative powers under Sections 17, 32, and 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA, 2018).
The court stated: "The Abuja Federal High Court has affirmed the statutory authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints relating to pricing of airline tickets." It further added that "the Commission's investigative powers under the FCCPA are distinct from the exercise of a power to regulate price."
Origin of the case
The dispute began in January 2025 when the FCCPC requested information from Air Peace following widespread consumer complaints about sharp increases in domestic airfares during the December 2024 festive period. Air Peace challenged the summons, arguing that the probe exceeded the FCCPC's powers and that the Commission should have referred the matter to an industry regulator under Section 148 of the FCCPA.
Justice Nyako rejected this argument, noting that the FCCPC neither directed Air Peace to reduce its fares nor imposed a pricing formula. She emphasized that accepting Air Peace's position would prevent the Commission from investigating pricing complaints unless the President first invoked the Act's price regulation provisions, which would undermine the Commission's investigative powers.
Previous legal challenge dismissed
This latest ruling follows an earlier legal challenge by Air Peace in 2025. In April 2026, Justice James Omotosho dismissed that case, ruling that the airline could not use the court to shield itself from investigation by the FCCPC. The current judgment further reinforces the FCCPC's authority to investigate consumer complaints under the FCCPA.
Broader context of pricing practices
The FCCPC had previously announced in February that it uncovered alleged patterns of price manipulation by some domestic airlines during the last festive season. The findings were based on a forensic review of fare data from airlines operating domestic routes. The report compared December 2025 festive fares with January 2026 post-peak prices. According to the Commission, higher fares largely coincided with periods of reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks. These findings are part of the FCCPC's ongoing review of pricing practices in Nigeria's domestic aviation sector.
