Why Abuja Chinese Supermarket Was Sealed As Owner Flees With Family

The owner of an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket, Cindy Liu Bei, has reportedly fled with her family leading to the sealing of the supermarket by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). 

The Abuja-based Chinese supermarket located within the China General Chamber of Commerce in Abuja was sealed on Monday by FCCPC following allegations of discriminatory practices against Nigerians.

The FCCPC’s officials sealed up the place after interrogating Nigerian workers at the supermarket.

The workers who are mostly Nigerians 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.

According to reports in PUNCH, the supermarket had implemented a controversial policy that permits only Chinese nationals into the Supermarket, thereby preventing Nigerians from patronising the establishment.

After visiting the premises on Monday, the commission (FCCPC) officials led by the Director for Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, said the mission of the commission is in response to the viral video when Nigerians were allegedly being discriminated against and denied access into a supermarket located in Abuja.

Speaking at the end of the enforcement exercise, Adeyinka said, “The essence of the surveillance and investigation that we conducted today is to verify the allegations and the content of that viral video.

“Adeyinka continues by stating that the supermarket had opened for business and 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.”

Mrs Adeyinka advised the owner in absentia to appear before the commission tribunal or the compound will remain sealed if she fails to attend to the summon which is a lawful inquiry.