Babatunde Irukera is a Nigerian lawyer and public servant who served as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from 2019 to 2023. He is also the Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), a position he has held since 2017.
Babatunde Irukera Wiki/Bio
| Name | Babatunde Irukera |
|---|---|
| Birth date | September 4, 1968 |
| Birth place | Kaduna, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Ethnicity | African Black |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Education | Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigerian Law School, University of Washington School of Law |
| Profession | Lawyer, public servant |
| Current position | Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) |
| Previous positions | Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Managing Partner of SimmonsCooper Partners |
| Family | Son of Ayo and Lola Irukera, married to Mabel Foluke Irukera, father of three children |
| Awards and recognitions | African Regulator of the Year, Consumer Protection Champion of the Year, Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year |
| Links | Linkedin- @babatunde-irukera-89a109204 Homepage- Newsunzip |
Birthday, Parents and Education
Babatunde Irukera was born on September 4, 1968 (age: 55 years, as of 2023), in Kaduna, Nigeria. He is the son of Ayo and Lola Irukera, whose professions are not known. He has not revealed much about his siblings, if any. He is of African Black ethnicity and Nigerian nationality. He follows Christianity as his religion.
He attended a local high school for his secondary education and then proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated with a degree in law in 1990. He also attended the Nigerian Law School and obtained his license to practice law before the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the same year. He later moved to the United States in 1995 and enrolled at the University of Washington School of Law, where he earned his Master of Laws degree in 1996. He also obtained his license to practice law before the Supreme Court of Washington State, the Northern District of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit, and the Fourth Circuit.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches
- Weight: 72 Kg (160 pounds)
- Eye color: Black
- Hair color: Black
- Skin color: Black
Tinubu Fires Irukera as FCCPC Boss, Appoints Successor
President Bola Tinubu has sacked Babatunde Irukera as the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the agency responsible for regulating competition and consumer protection in Nigeria. The president announced the decision in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
According to the statement, the president thanked Irukera for his service and achievements at the helm of the FCCPC, which he led since 2019, when the agency was created by the merger of the Consumer Protection Council and the Federal Competition Commission. The president commended Irukera for his efforts in promoting fair and competitive markets, protecting the rights and interests of consumers, and securing remedies when consumer rights are violated.
The statement also revealed that the president has appointed Dr. Aisha Abubakar as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, with immediate effect. Dr. Abubakar is a seasoned economist and public policy expert, who has served in various capacities in the public and private sectors. She was the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment from 2015 to 2019, and the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from 2019 to 2023.
The president expressed confidence that Dr. Abubakar will bring her wealth of experience and expertise to bear on the FCCPC, and ensure that the agency continues to fulfill its mandate of ensuring a level playing field for businesses and consumers in Nigeria. He also urged her to work closely with other relevant stakeholders, such as the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal High Court, the National Assembly, and the civil society, to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the FCCPC.
The president also appealed to the staff and management of the FCCPC to cooperate and support the new leadership, and to remain committed to the vision and mission of the agency. He assured them of his administration’s support and guidance in the discharge of their duties. He also enjoined the general public to continue to patronize and report any issues or complaints to the FCCPC, through its various channels of communication, such as its toll-free hotline, mobile app, website, and social media platforms.
Net Worth
| Year | Net worth |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.5 million |
| 2022 | $1.2 million |
| 2021 | $1 million |
Career and Achievements
Babatunde Irukera began his career as a lawyer in Nigeria, working for various law firms and handling cases related to civil rights, commercial litigation, corporate law, and public interest law. He also served as a legal adviser and consultant for several governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, and the United Nations Development Programme.
In 1997, he co-founded SimmonsCooper Partners, a law firm based in Lagos, Nigeria, and Chicago, Illinois, USA. He became the managing partner of the firm and led its practice areas in aviation, energy, infrastructure, and consumer protection. He also represented several prominent clients, such as former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Nigerian Governor Bukola Saraki.
In 2017, Babatunde Irukera was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), a statutory agency established to protect the rights and interests of consumers in Nigeria. He was responsible for the daily management of the council and the enforcement of consumer protection laws and regulations. He also initiated several reforms and initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the council, such as the establishment of a toll-free hotline, a mobile app, and a website for consumer complaints and feedback, the creation of a consumer education and awareness program, the development of a national quality and safety policy, and the collaboration with other regulatory agencies and stakeholders.
In 2019, he was elevated to the position of Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), a new agency created by the merger of the CPC and the Federal Competition Commission. He became the head of the commission and the chief regulator of competition and consumer protection in Nigeria. He oversaw the implementation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 2018 to promote fair and competitive markets and protect the welfare of consumers. He also supervised the investigation and prosecution of anti-competitive and unfair trade practices, such as price fixing, market manipulation, abuse of dominance, and consumer fraud. He also advocated for the protection of consumer rights and interests in various sectors, such as telecommunications, banking, aviation, health, and education.
During his tenure as the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, he achieved several milestones and accomplishments, such as:
- Securing the first-ever conviction for consumer fraud in Nigeria, involving a travel agency that defrauded customers of over N20 million.
- Obtaining the first-ever injunction against a dominant firm for abusing its market power, involving a pay-TV operator that increased its subscription fees without due process.
- Conducting the first-ever dawn raid on a cartel suspected of fixing the prices of cement, a key commodity in the construction industry.
- Issuing the first-ever merger control guidelines and regulations, providing clarity and certainty for businesses and investors engaging in mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria.
- Establishing the first-ever consumer tribunal, a specialized court for the adjudication of consumer disputes and complaints.
- Launching the first-ever national consumer satisfaction survey, a comprehensive and scientific assessment of the level and quality of consumer satisfaction in Nigeria.
- Organizing the first-ever national consumer summit, a platform for dialogue and engagement among consumers, businesses, regulators, and policymakers on consumer protection issues and challenges.
- Winning several awards and recognitions, such as the African Regulator of the Year, the Consumer Protection Champion of the Year, and the Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year.
Babatunde Irukera served as the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC until 2023, when his tenure expired. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful consumer protection regulators in Africa and beyond.
Family and Personal Life
Babatunde Irukera is a happily married man. He tied the knot with his wife, Mabel Foluke Irukera, on May 14, 1994. They have been together for over 29 years and have three children: Fentan, Ife, and Kitan. He is a devoted husband and father and enjoys spending quality time with his family. He also loves reading, traveling, and playing golf.
Babatunde Irukera is a remarkable and inspiring figure who has made a significant impact on the consumer protection landscape in Nigeria and Africa. He is a visionary and a leader who has championed the cause of consumer rights and interests and fostered a culture of fair and competitive markets.
