Court orders Multichoice to pay N150m fine and give Nigerians one month free subscription

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT), sitting in Abuja awarded a fine of N150 million against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited for disrespecting its jurisdiction by flouting its order. 

A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu gave the verdict on Friday, June 7.

The tribunal had previously blocked Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice, based on a lawsuit by Barrister Festus Onifade who claimed the eight-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.

Onifade had sued DSTV, accusing the Pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month’s notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders.

The tribunal, in a unanimous decision by its three-member panel, ordered MultiChoice to pay a fine of N150 million and also to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its DSTV and GOTV services.

The tribunal subsequently fixed July 3 to hear the substantive action that was instituted against the company.