The federal government has arraigned two supermarkets and two pharmacies operators before the Abuja Division of the federal high court for allegedly hiking prices of key hygiene products such as hand sanitizer, disinfectants and face masks.
In the suit filed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, FCCPC, the defendants were accused of taking undue advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to inflate prices of key hygiene products contrary to section 108(1) of FCCP Act 2018.
When the matter was called, the prosecution counsel, Mr Babatunde Irukere, informed the court that the matter was for arraignment and that they were ready to proceed as scheduled.
However, counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, announced that the second defendant could not appear in court as she was not served with the court notice.
Earlier, the presiding judge, Justice Nkeonye Maha, raised the issue of jurisdiction, stressed that the matter ought to have been taken to the tribunal.
After due consideration, the judge adjourned the matter till June 25 for the arraignment of the defendants.
The supermarkets/pharmacies operators are H-Medix Pharmacy, Gizo Pharmacy and Stores, Prince Ebeano Supermarket and Bakan and Faxx Stores.