FCCPC files lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria for ‘violating’ regulatory directives

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed a lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria and its chief executive officer, John Ugbe, for allegedly violating regulatory directives and obstructing an ongoing inquiry.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 5, by Ondaja Ijagwu, the director of corporate affairs, the FCCPC detailed its legal action against the pay-TV company following its decision to increase subscription prices despite regulatory warnings.

On February 24, MultiChoice announced a price hike for its DStv and GOtv packages, set to take effect on March 1. The move, which came less than a year after a previous increase, sparked widespread criticism, prompting the FCCPC to intervene. The commission directed MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing and instructed the company to halt the price hike pending an ongoing probe.

However, the FCCPC stated that MultiChoice Nigeria ignored the directive and proceeded with the increase. As a result, the commission filed charges against the company at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

“Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences under the FCCPA 2018, specifically for willfully obstructing the Commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives (Section 33(4)), impeding the ongoing investigation by ignoring instructions to suspend the hike (Section 110), and attempting to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without abjection (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)),” the statement reads.

“The Commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law.

“By disregarding the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the Commission’s investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition.”

The FCCPC also disclosed that it is reviewing additional enforcement measures, including sanctions, penalties, and regulatory interventions, to ensure compliance. The commission reassured Nigerians of its commitment to protecting consumers from exploitative business practices and ensuring that dominant market players adhere to legal and fair competition principles.