The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Thursday sealed the offices of Ochacho Group Worldwide and Ti’Bilon Construction and Facility Management Company in Abuja over persistent non-compliance with regulatory directives and failure to resolve consumer complaints.
The enforcement action, carried out by FCCPC officials and security operatives in the Federal Capital Territory, followed the companies’ repeated refusal to comply with compliance notices requiring them to deliver housing units to consumers who had paid in full or to process refunds where applicable.
Marvin Nadah, deputy director of the Surveillance and Investigations Department at the FCCPC, confirmed that the commission had previously issued formal directives to both companies directing them to provide redress to affected consumers.
“Between then and now, FCCPC have had certain conversations with the entities, however, they still failed to comply,” Nadah said during the enforcement operation.
According to the FCCPC, multiple consumers had filed complaints against both firms alleging non-delivery of properties despite full payment and failure to process refunds even after the commission ordered them to do so.
“For one of the companies, the consumers paid for properties that were not delivered. In another case, after reviewing the matter, we ordered the entity to make a refund to the consumer but that was not done,” Nadah explained.
The commission said it gave the companies multiple opportunities to comply with the directives before resorting to sealing their offices.
The enforcement action was taken pursuant to Section 150(4) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, which empowers the FCCPC to take strict regulatory action against non-compliant entities that violate consumer protection regulations.
The sealed premises will remain closed indefinitely until both companies fully comply with the commission’s directives and resolve all outstanding consumer complaints.
“The companies must come with proof of compliance with the order of the Commission before their offices would be unsealed,” Nadah said.
The sealing of both offices represents part of the FCCPC’s intensified enforcement actions in the real estate sector, aimed at combating what the commission described as “obnoxious and exploitative practices against consumers.”
“I will say this is a continuation of the Commission’s effort at stopping obnoxious and exploitative practices in this sector of the economy against consumers,” Nadah stated.
Housing fraud and delayed project delivery have become significant challenges in Nigeria’s real estate market, particularly in Abuja, where rapid urbanisation has created high demand for residential properties. The FCCPC said the action was necessary to restore consumer confidence in the sector and hold developers accountable for contractual obligations.
Nadah advised consumers to exercise caution before engaging real estate companies or making property payments.
“Consumers should read and understand everything offered by real estate companies and other businesses before subscribing to them. Know the terms and conditions, understand the timeline for delivery and ensure you have clear documentation,” he said.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to protecting consumers from exploitative practices and warned that similar enforcement actions would be taken against other firms that violate consumer rights and ignore regulatory directives.
Representatives of the companies contested the action during the enforcement, arguing that the disputes are contractual in nature and should be resolved through legal or arbitration processes. However, the FCCPC emphasised that it had received no court order restraining its enforcement and reaffirmed its statutory mandate to protect consumers.
