The committee of chief executives of the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) has decried the “wanton intimidation and threats of closure of company operations” by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and some other government agencies.
In a statement issued at the end of its executive meeting held on Friday, AFBTE said “the industry had suffered for long in the hands of some government departments and agencies”.
The association cited the current example of CPC and federal ministry of justice that filled a suit against the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and their chief executives as a case of regulatory agencies high handedness.
“The need for all in Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) to support the two companies and stand in solidarity to curtail the spill over effect of the activities of Consumer Protection Council had been thoroughly considered,” read the statement.
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“The association, also expressed concern that Consumer Protection Council counsel’s demand that bench warrant be issued for the arrest of the two chief executives (of Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and Cola-Cola Nigeria Limited) might be followed up at the court sitting on Monday, November 10, 2014.
“Therefore, the committee of chief executive resolved that it was imperative for chief executives or their representatives to attend the court sitting for show of solidarity and fearless disposition to ensure that principle of fair hearing, justice and respect for proprietary rights are upheld in.”
It would be recalled that the CPC and the office of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) had filed a suit against the chief executives officers of Coca-Cola and NBC alleging criminal breach of the Consumer Protection (CPC) Act.
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