FCCPC seals estates for refusing to hand over properties to customers
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off three estates in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for refusing to hand over houses bought in
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off three estates in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for refusing to hand over houses bought in the estates to the rightful owners.
The commission said it took the action after the buyers had completed payment for the houses but the developers refused to hand the houses over to the owners.
The Deputy Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Marvin Nadah, announced this while addressing reporters during a surveillance in Abuja.
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The deputy director stated that the commission had been inundated with complaints about money paid for houses and developers refusing to hand over the houses to the customers.
He said: “Though a lot of complaints have been coming from the angle of real estate developers, but the ones for Paradise Estate are really getting too much. With all the efforts made, including directing that the houses be handed over, the developers still refuses to do the right thing.
“Failure to comply with the notices that we had given, in line with Section 150 of the FCCPA Act, 2018, is the reason for this seal-up.
“The notice to give customers back their properties was pasted on February 24. The commission earlier gave the developers seven days to comply, but they did not.
“It is worthy to know that the payment for these buildings has been completed by the customers for over three years; not just one customer; it’s almost all the customers. But the developers won’t hand over, which is very wrong.
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“I want to assure Nigerians that the commission is always present to receive complaints of any untoward act by any company against consumers. The government cannot sit by and watch when consumers are exploited or information is misrepresented or consumers are misled in any manner or form.”
Nadah said that before the commission enforced its power over the developers, a compliance notice had been issued in line with Section 150 of the FCCPC Act to the management of Paradise Estate without response.
The sealing of Paradise Estates followed the faiure of the developers to comply with the commission’s earlier interventions.
The deputy director said the commission would also take appropriate actions against other defaulting developers.
