Coca-Cola in Nigerian court over half-empty cans

Nigeria is taking Coca-Cola to court for allegedly refusing to comply with orders from the Consumer Protection Council over two half-empty cans of Sprite.

Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke filed suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday against Coca-Cola Nigeria and its chief executive for criminal breach of the Consumer Protection Act.

He accuses Coca-Cola of “deliberately failing, refusing and/or neglecting to comply” with orders to appear before the council and subject their manufacturing processes to its inspection.

The infractions carry jail terms of three to five years. Coca-Cola did not immediately respond.

The consumer council in February warned Coca-Cola that Nigeria was not a “dumping ground for substandard products” and noted complaints about rusty cans, rusty bottle tops and foreign particles in beverages.