ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has launched an investigation into a viral bread review that sparked concerns over product quality, following the arrest and ₦50 million lawsuit filed against the reviewer by the baker whose product she criticised.
The FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, made this known on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Ijagwu explained that the commission acted promptly after becoming aware of the situation.
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“People could exercise their right to that extent, but in the particular case on the bread issue, let me tell you, those kinds of things raised certain red flags with us and as soon as we got wind of it, our surveillance and investigation department and even our legal services were up to ensure that certain things happened The FCCPC confirmed that it intervened to secure Doshima’s release from custody and also engaged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to analyse the bread sample she referenced in her review.
“We facilitated with NAFDAC to take on board the sample that was referenced by that particular consumer for further analysis.
“We also ensured that when we heard the person who was actually the consumer in question was being harassed and taken to the police, we ensured that the consumer got released,” he said.
The FCCPC director emphasised that consumers have the legal right to express their experiences and seek redress.
“The law ensures that consumers are provided with information and also guarantees them the right to be heard. If a consumer suffers anything, definitely the consumer has a right to make certain representations.
“We would look at those issues within the confines of our law as a right to information and the right to be heard, and that is even a right to redress by implication because the right to be heard is part of a right to redress,” he said.
Ijagwu assured that the commission would continue to monitor the case until its conclusion.
“We provided assistance from one point to the other, and we are keeping tabs on that matter.
Our operatives are very much on it. We are interested in it, and we even want the termination to be made,” he said.
The controversy began after a video posted by Love Doshima, in which she claimed that a loaf of bread she bought remained fresh for over two months, went viral, raising public concerns about product quality and the use of preservatives.
The baker later filed a ₦50 million lawsuit against her and, according to the FCCPC, also had her arrested by the police.