The design to prosecute errant telecoms operators was unfolded in Lagos on Monday at a junction report briefing addressed by the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki; and Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah.
Atoki said the errant operators endangered prosecution and jail periods of up to five years if ongoing enquiries disclosed that they had deliberately short-changed Nigerians through poor service consignment.
“The CPC can make instructions in the interest and protection of
consumers, and disobedience is also criminalised by regulation.
While the NCC can enforce fines on an offending operator, the CPC can, in addition, consign such recalcitrant offender to prison term for disobeying any consumer protection enactment,” she explained.
Atoki said the dispute of doing enterprise in the country was the common justification by the service providers for the violation of consumer rights, but documented that as far as the CPC was concerned and as long as an enterprise was in procedure and buyers were paying for its service or merchandise, the buyers should get worth for their cash.
“Under the Consumer Protection Council act, the CPC has the power to sanction, prosecute and compel any merchandise or service provider to response a lawful investigation, disobedience of which is criminalised,” she said.
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