FCCPC seals visa centre over consumer rights violation

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday sealed off the TLS Visa Application Centre in Lagos for allegedly obstructing ongoing investigations into consumer rights violations.

The Commission’s Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, who led the operation, said the move followed multiple breaches of the FCCPC Act, including assault on government officials and uniformed police officers, and the wilful refusal to honour lawful summons.

According to Adeyinka, the investigation into TLS—a private company offering visa support services to Nigerians—began in March 2025, following complaints from consumers over the non-provision of services they had paid for.

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“On the 25th of March, we served TLS a letter in line with our normal complaint resolution process,” she said. “Instead of addressing the complaint, their officers assaulted FCCPC operatives carrying out their lawful duty of enforcing consumer rights.”

She disclosed that the situation escalated further when TLS officials not only refused to accept a formal summons to appear before the commission but also assaulted police officers who were providing lawful security for FCCPC operations.

“In line with Section 18(1) (f) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Babatunde Irukera, directed the sealing of the premises,” Adeyinka stated.

She emphasised that the commission had reasonable grounds to believe that TLS’s operations were “inimical to consumer welfare” and, therefore, warranted immediate suspension pending further investigation.

She said senior officers of TLS, including the country manager and centre manager, have now been summoned to appear before the commission in Abuja by 2 pm on Friday, June 20, 2025, to explain their conduct and defend the company’s actions.

Adeyinka warned that refusal to honour this latest summons could attract severe legal consequences under the FCCPC Act.

“Section 33(3) of the FCCPC Act stipulates that failure to comply with a summons, without sufficient cause, is an offence punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to ₦20m, or both,” she said.

“Section 33(4) goes further to state that any person who willfully obstructs or interrupts proceedings of the commission isiable to the same penalties. TLS’s actions clearly fall under these violations.”