471
By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the Abuja office of travel agency TLScontact over alleged obstruction of investigation, assault of government officers, and poor consumer services.
This was disclosed by Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC on Thursday during an enforcement exercise observed by pointblanknews.com in Abuja.
“This is an enforcement operation against TLS. As you are aware, they provide visa support services to Nigerian consumers. On the 25th of March 2025, based on a consumer complaint, a letter was served on them to address the issue, as is our usual process,” she said.
However, the situation escalated after TLS officers allegedly assaulted FCCPC operatives instead of receiving the complaint.
“The officers of TLScontact, rather than receive the consumer complaint, proceeded to assault our officers who were conducting the lawful duty of protecting and implementing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act,” Adeyinka stated.
According to her, the Commission subsequently summoned the agency’s executives. But once again, TLS staff allegedly assaulted FCCPC personnel and even uniformed police officers who were on duty.
“Rather than receive the summons of the Commission, officers of TLS again proceeded not only to assault our officers but also assaulted uniformed security police officers,” she said.
In response, the FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, ordered that the TLScontact premises be sealed under Section 18(1)(f) of the FCCPC Act.
Adeyinka added, “The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission directed that the premises be sealed for conducting services that the Commission considered, upon reasonable suspicion, to be inimical to consumer welfare in Nigeria.”
The FCCPC has now summoned TLS’s country manager, center manager, and other senior staff to appear before the Commission by 2 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025. They are to explain why they obstructed lawful investigation and why enforcement actions should not be escalated.
Quoting Section 33 of the FCCPC Act, Adeyinka said, “Any person who without sufficient cause fails or refuses to appear before the Commission in compliance with a summons commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 20 million naira, or both.”
She added, “A person who willfully obstructs or interrupts the proceedings of the Commission commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the same penalty.”
The FCCPC said TLS’s conduct contravenes consumer protection laws, and the agency’s ongoing services have been deemed harmful to Nigerians.
“Consumers are still complaining about the services. That underscores the reason why they need to appear before the Commission and explain the operations of TLS in Nigeria,” Adeyinka said.
TLS is yet to respond publicly to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.