In Nigeria, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has, according to reports reaching BMA, fined MultiChoice Nigeria, the owners of DSTV and GoTv services, the sum of US$99,914 for disobeying its orders. The tribunal also restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the suit’s determination.
The tribunal also ordered the pay-TV company to provide Nigerian customers a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.
Recall that the tribunal had previously ordered MultiChoice not to increase its subscription fees without proper notice following a lawsuit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who said the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.
Onifade then filed contempt charges against Multichoice after it disobeyed court orders and proceeded with its price hike, which it announced via email to its customers.
Contempt charges were filed on May 7 against Mr Mohammed Sani, the Manager of the Abuja branch of Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd.
“Take notice that unless you obey the under-listed order of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, Abuja, given on the 29th day of April 2024, thus: “An order restraining the 1st defendant/respondent either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st May 2024, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal”.
On its part, MultiChoice argued that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues.
Onifade insisted the length of notice was inadequate and more pressing than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and ruling against Multichoice.
The court fixed July 3 for a hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.
