The owner of the Abuja-based Chinese supermarket sealed for not allowing Nigerians to shop at the facility, Liu Bei, has appeared before a tribunal at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Our correspondent gathered that Liu Bei, in the company of her family and estate officials, arrived at the commission headquarters located in Asokoro, Abuja on Wednesday at 11 am to defend discriminatory claims against her.
The latest development followed a summons notice and threat of sanctions by the FCCPC on Monday after it sealed her store.
PUNCH Online reported on Sunday that the supermarket had implemented a policy restricting entry solely to Chinese nationals, excluding Nigerians from patronising the establishment.
This report sparked widespread condemnation as Nigerians voiced their concerns over the discriminatory treatment.
But the supermarket owner, in a statement sent to PUNCH Online, refuted allegations that her store catered exclusively to a particular group, emphasising that she served residents, workers, and visitors from the office building, irrespective of nationality.
Giving an update, the estate assistant facility manager, Sanusi Shuaibu, in a telephone chat with our correspondent declared that the issue has been resolved and officials of the commission have unsealed the grocery store.
He said, “Yes, we went to the commission today and all the issues have been resolved. The owner of the supermarket was also present at the meeting with the officials. The owner tried to explain the situation and they allowed everyone involved to explain what really happened.
“They also asked us to submit some documents which we did and they also asked her (the owner) some questions. After the meeting, we left the commission and they came to unseal the supermarket.
“They also checked the products in the store and we provided answers to all the questions asked. The store is now open and the woman has returned to her shop.”
An official who works at the FCCPC also confirmed to our correspondent that the supermarket owner appeared at the meeting.
“I saw some persons including the Chinese woman, at our office earlier today and a few hours later, our enforcement officers left the premises but I don’t know if they went to unseal the place or not.” (Punch)
