The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has fined Multichoice Nigeria N150 million and ordered it to provide DStv and GOtv users with one month of free subscription.
This ruling came after Multichoice contested the court’s jurisdiction following an order barring the company from increasing its subscription prices.
The decision was delivered on June 7th by a three-man panel led by Justice Thomas Okosu.
Previously, in April 2024, the CCPT in Abuja, acting on an ex-parte motion by counsel Ejiro Awaritoma for applicant Festus Onifade, had ordered Multichoice to halt its planned price hike set for May 1, 2024.
The tribunal’s three-member panel, headed by Saratu Shafii, restrained Multichoice from actions that might negatively impact consumers’ rights pending further hearings.
Despite this, Multichoice increased its service charges, arguing that Onifade did not have the authority to regulate prices as he is not the President of Nigeria.
The tribunal’s recent ruling addresses this defiance by imposing the fine and mandating the free subscription month.
