Gom Mirian
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a $110 million fine on British American Tobacco (BAT) Nigeria and its affiliated companies for violating the FCCPC Act, the National Tobacco Control Act, and other legal instruments.
The fine was determined through mutual engagement with BAT under the FCCPC’s Cooperation/Assistance Rules & Procedure (CARP) 2021, which offers potential benefits like reduced penalties and waiver of certain regulations for cooperating companies.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, the commission stated that the BAT parties will also be subjected to a 24-month compliance and monitoring programme overseen by the FCCPC to ensure adherence to appropriate business practices.
They will also be required to undertake a mandatory public health and tobacco control advocacy campaign by relevant laws and regulations.
Additionally, the BAT parties must provide written assurances to the commission as per Section 153 of the FCCPA. In return for fulfilling their obligations under the Consent Order, the commission has withdrawn pending criminal charges against BAT Nigeria and one employee for obstructing the execution of a search warrant and initial lack of cooperation during the investigation.
The FCCPC’s investigation, which began on August 28, 2020, was initiated based on credible information and intelligence warranting further inquiry. After obtaining a search warrant from the Federal High Court, the commission executed simultaneous searches at multiple BAT locations and a service provider’s location on January 25, 2021.
