Nigeria, April 29 -- A Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate complaints related to medical negligence and healthcare services.

According to a statement issued by the FCCPC on Tuesday, the judgment, delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on 15 April, followed a suit filed by Life Bridge Medical Diagnostic Centre Ltd challenging the commission's authority to probe complaints involving services rendered to patients.

The plaintiff had argued that the FCCPC lacked jurisdiction to investigate alleged medical negligence and could not act without first establishing a formal arrangement with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

However, the...