Pay-TV service provider, Multichoice Nigeria, has announced its intention to appeal against the ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal which imposed a N150 million fine on the company for challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
The CCPT also directed Multichoice to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription on DStv and GOtv.
The tribunal had previously restrained Multichoice from increasing subscription fees without adequate notice, following a suit by Festus Onifade, who argued that the 8-day notice given by Multichoice for a price hike was insufficient.
In response to the ruling, Multichoice Nigeria stated, “We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling. As the matter is currently sub judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”
Onifade had sued Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), accusing the pay-TV company of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one-month notice to customers.
A three-member tribunal chaired by Saratu Shafii had ruled in favour of Onifade by restraining Multichoice from going ahead with the impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
However, Multichoice’s lawyer, Moyosore Onibanjo, SAN, filed a preliminary objection urging the court to decline jurisdiction on the suit, arguing that such a price dispute case had been decided before in favour of his client.
On Friday, the three-man panel chaired by Justice Thomas Okosu held that the tribunal has jurisdiction over consumer rights, noting that the claimant’s suit was about the illegality of Multichoice’s 8-day notice to customers rather than questioning the price hike itself.
