Court mandates the FG to set prices for milk, flour, salt, sugar, and other items within the next seven days

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa from the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has issued a compelling directive instructing the Nigerian federal government to establish prices for a range of commodities.

In response to a petition presented and argued by renowned human rights activist Femi Falana SAN, the judge has ordered the federal government to set prices for various essential goods and petroleum products within a strict deadline of 7 days.

Falana’s petition sought clarification on whether the government is meeting its obligation under Section 4 of the Price Control Act, which mandates the imposition of price controls on specific goods listed in the First Schedule of the Act.

“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, Cap…., 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.”

Justice Lewis-Allagoa, in delivering the judgment, emphasized the lack of opposition from the respondents, namely the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Price Control Board, to the originating motion.

According to legal norms, this absence of opposition implies an admission of all facts deposed in the affidavit attached to the motion.

“I have had the applicant Femi Falana in a suit no San,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.”

As a result, the judge directed the Nigerian government to swiftly set prices for a variety of crucial items and petroleum products, such as milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles and their components, matches, motorcycles and their components, motor vehicles and their components, along with diesel, gasoline (PMS), and kerosene.

Source: Torizone