AAT is sad (but not surprised) to report that the new Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has sacked the legendary head of its competition-law enforcer, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera. His termination is with immediate effect. His pro tempore replacement at the agency will be Dr. Adamu Ahmed Abdullahi, as the next-in-command Executive Commissioner of Operations.
While it is certainly not a shocking revelation that incoming administrations frequently shake up their senior agency leadership, it is nonetheless an objective loss to the burgeoning FCCPC, which — under Irukera’s leadership — invariably gained international respect and, indeed, won an award for Nigeria’s most effective government institution.
The reactions of those with personal knowledge of the outgoing FCCPC CEO were almost invariably gloomy. Says Andreas Stargard, a partner with competition firm Primerio Ltd.: “This is a real loss to the Commission, which was literally brought into existence under the aegis of Babatunde. The antitrust community views his departure with dejection and a real concern for the future trajectory of the otherwise blossoming young agency, with which we had nothing but positive experiences so far. Babatunde is a real leader, and I wish him well in his future endeavours — I have a feeling that this is not the last we have seen of him in Nigerian antitrust.“
Other industry voices echoed similar sentiments, with academic Vellah Kigwiru opining that Irukera “had so much to offer for the continent,” while the FCCPC’s Chief Legal Officer, Florence Abebe, stated poignantly:
“He is such an icon. FCCPC cannot be the same. The sadness is real. He took the then-CPC from a T-shirt and face cap wearing council with disgruntled incapacitated staff to what it is today on the continent and globally. Staff welfare was paramount, he prioritised capacity development like no other, he demanded excellence and professionalism from staff; he folded his sleeves and did the work, he wasn’t just directing operations, he was handling himself. While we were preparing, this guy was thinking on his feet. He is a genius, unpredictable, humble, compassionate, patient to the core, and didn’t accept failure. He is an institution!”
Mr. Irukera’s departure comes on the heels of the FCCPC’s record-setting multi-million dollar single-firm conduct settlement with British American Tobacco, on which AAT reported previously.
10 January 2023 update:
After widespread criticism and backlash against the manner in which Mr. Irukera’s departure from the Commission was announced by the new(ish) Nigerian government, the administration revised its statements to the effect of having “relieved [him] of his duties,” as opposed to “dismissed” the CEO. From a tweet: “I have followed the concerns in the media on the report that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissed Babatunde Irukera EVC/CEO, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Alexander Ayoola Okoh — Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The President’s directive did not intend a dismissal. The two men who have served our country were relieved of their duties by the President, as he scouts for their successors. The connotations implied in using the word dismissal were clearly not intended in the statement issued. President Tinubu thanks the two men for their services and wishes them well in their future endeavours.”