The Abuja High Court has affirmed the statutory authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints regarding airline ticket pricing.

The ruling was delivered by Honourable Justice B.F.M. Nyako following a suit filed by Air Peace Limited, challenging the Commission’s authority to investigate complaints concerning the Airline’s exploitative ticket pricing.

Air Peace had in 2025 filed a suit challenging FCCPC’s request for information in January 2025 after widespread complaints over substantial increases in airfares on certain domestic routes in December 2024.

The airline in its suit argued that the Commission lacked authority to inquire into airfare pricing unless the nation’s president had first invoked the price regulation provisions of the FCCP Act. It also requested orders to restrain the Commission from doing so.

Justice Nyako rejected Air Peace’s arguments and held that the Commission acted within its investigative powers under Sections 17, 32, and 33of the FCCPA when it sought information from Air Peace in response to consumer complaints.

The interpretation requested by Air Peace, if approved by the court, would effectively prevent the Commission from investigating complaints relating to pricing unless the President had first invoked Section 88 of the FCCPA.

According to the court, such an interpretation would undermine the Commission’s investigative powers whenever pricing complaints arose and could not have been the intention of the legislature.

The June 29 judgment by Justice Nyako is consistent with a ruling earlier in April 2026 by Justice James Omotosho in another suit filed by Air Peace contesting the Commission’s power to investigate complaints concerning possible exploitative ticket pricing by airlines.