Judge Directs FG To Fix Price Of Goods Within Seven Days

A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, has mandated the Federal Government (FG) to fix the prices of goods and petroleum products within seven days. 

The judge took the decision consequent upon an originating motion filed and argued by the applicant and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN. 

According to the judge, “I have heard the applicant Femi Falana, SAN, in a suit No FHC/L/CS/869/2023, and I have also discovered that despite the service of the originating motion on the respondents, namely Attorney-General of the Federation and the Price Control Board, no opposition to it by way of counter affidavit, which is law that all the facts deposed in the affidavit attached to the originating motion are all deemed admitted. 

“Consequently, all prayers that are sought for in the motion papers are hereby granted as prayed.”

The judge particularly ordered the Nigerian government to fix the price of Milk, Flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and their spare parts, matches, motorcycles and their spare parts, motor vehicles and their spare parts as well as petroleum products, which include: diesel, Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) and kerosene. 

It would be recalled that Falana had approached the court for the following: “whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act., the first defendant is carrying out its duty to impose a price on any goods that are of the kind specified in the First Schedule to the Price Control Act. 

“A declaration that by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act Cap, the defendants are under a legal obligation to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene. 

“A declaration that the failure or refusal of the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

“An order directing the defendants to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit and kerosene not later than 7 days after the delivery of the Judgment of this Honourable Court.”

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