The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has sealed the Chinese supermarket located within the China General Chamber of Commerce in Abuja following allegations of discriminatory practices against Nigerians
Officials of the FCCPC stormed the premises and shut the supermarket on Monday.
The commission’s officials sealed up the place following the interrogation of Nigerian workers at the supermarket.
Nigerians had strongly criticized the discriminatory policy implemented by the Chinese Supermarket for barring Nigerians.
The supermarket only granted exclusive entry to Chinese nationals in the country.
The facility manager of the complex, Shaibu Sanusi noted that Nigerians from outside the complex do not shop but Nigerians within can access it.
This was as facilities workers at the store disclosed that the owner of the supermarket had fled the premises.
The workers, who were largely Nigerians, said that the owner of the supermarket had fled when the officials of the Commission stormed the supermarket on Monday.
The workers said that the owner of the supermarket, a Chinese lady, Cindy Liu Bei, fled on Monday at 8:26 am with her family as confirmed on the Closed-Circuit Television camera.
During the visit to the premises on Monday, the commission officials led by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, explained that the mission of the commission is in response to the viral video when Nigerians were allegedly being discriminated against and denied access to a supermarket located in Abuja.
Adeyinka also averred that the owner of the supermarket, identified as Cindy Liu Bei, fled on Monday at 8:26 am with her family as confirmed on the Closed-Circuit Television camera.
“The essence of the surveillance and investigation that we conducted today is to verify the allegations and the content of that viral video.
“On arrival, we noticed that the supermarket which is right behind me, was sealed and padlocked externally. Inquiries have shown that yes, as this morning this supermarket was open and people were here.
“CCTV footage also shows that in the morning, two vehicles departed from these very premises allegedly containing the owner of the supermarket, whom we have been able to identify by name and we have her contact details,” she said.
The FCCPC’s Director directed that the owner appear before the commission tribunal or the compound will remain sealed.
“Now the summons of course since she’s not around and the place is locked, is to serve notice on her to appear before the federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by Wednesday.
“There are other regulatory tools to be deployed, if she fails to attend to this summon. The summons means that on entering into these premises they must see the summon because that is how they gain access to it”, she said.
She went further that if the Chinese owner fails to attend to the summon which is a lawful inquiry, the place will remain locked until she appears before the commission.
