A recent disagreement between Nigeria’s consumer regulator and pay-TV company MultiChoice has been resolved amicably out of court. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and MultiChoice had been at odds for several months following a price increase for the DStv and GOtv services in March.
In response to the price hike, the FCCPC summoned MultiChoice to justify the increases and provide necessary documentation. However, MultiChoice did not comply with the request, which led the regulator to believe it violated the FCCPC Act. Consequently, the Commission filed a seven-count criminal lawsuit against MultiChoice and several of its executives, accusing them of obstructing inquiries and ignoring summons.
Recently, both parties notified Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja that they had reached a mutually agreeable resolution, effectively concluding the legal dispute. The FCCPC’s attorney, Daniel Amadi, informed the court that a notice of withdrawal was submitted on August 16, signalling that all outstanding issues had been addressed. With no objections raised by the defence, Justice Omotosho dismissed the case.
The FCCPC emphasised that ongoing compliance and transparency are essential to maintain trust between companies and regulators in Nigeria’s consumer market.
