By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has dissociated itself from reports claiming it secured a N17 million court judgment against soft drink giant, Coca-Cola.
In a statement issued by the agency, the CPC emphasised that it neither directly contributed nor participated in the said dispute or judicial process against the drink firm.
The CPC explained that the only link it has with the case was its present Director General, Mr Babatunde Irukera, who took part in the case while with SimmonsCooper Partners, which was before his appointment by the Federal Government.
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication suggesting that the CPC secured judgment in the sum of 17 Million Naira against Coca Cola from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Although the story factually reports that the current Director General of the CPC prior to his appointment as Director General was a partner at SimmonsCooper Partners, and in that role, represented the Respondent in that Appeal (Mrs Titilayo Akisanya) in this case which emanated from the National Industrial Court as far back as 2012.
“The subject of the litigation appears to be a private employment dispute between Coca Cola and Akisanya. The conflict was not about, or on account of a consumer issue or failure. There was no underlying complaint or apparent statutory jurisdiction of the CPC.
“Essentially, the only child connection of the CPC to this case is that the court decision was delivered by the Supreme Court at a time after counsel of record, Babatunde Irukera was appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Director General of the CPC, even though he previously argued the case before this appointment,” the statement, signed CPC’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Abiodun Obimuyiwa, explained.
Adedapo Adesanya