Categories: NewsTop Stories

Multichoice Nigeria Fined ₦150 Million, Ordered to Provide One-Month Free Subscription

 

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has imposed a hefty fine of ₦150 million on Multichoice Nigeria, the parent company of DSTV and GOTV, for contesting the court’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, the tribunal has mandated the company to grant a one-month free subscription to its Nigerian subscribers.

Led by Thomas Okusu, a three-man panel delivered the verdict on Friday following a legal battle initiated by Barrister Festus Onifade.

Onifade’s lawsuit challenged Multichoice’s abrupt subscription fee hike, citing insufficient notice given to customers, which he argued violated consumer rights.

Earlier, the tribunal had restrained Multichoice from implementing subscription fee increases without adequate prior notice, responding to Onifade’s claims. The barrister alleged that Multichoice’s eight-day notice period for the price hike was inadequate and unjust.

During proceedings, Multichoice’s legal team argued that previous rulings had resolved price regulation matters, attempting to dismiss the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

Conversely, Onifade emphasized the inadequacy of notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.

The court has scheduled July 3 for the hearing of the plaintiff’s substantive suit, indicating a continued legal battle between Onifade and Multichoice over consumer protection and pricing policies.

admin

Recent Posts

EFCC Chair Raises Alarm on Rampant Fraud in Nigeria’s Electricity Sector

  Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised concerns…

22 hours ago

Customs Surpasses Revenue Target with N5.7 tn Collection

  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a record revenue collection of N5.7 trillion…

24 hours ago

Half of Shortlisted Directors Fail Federal Permanent Secretary Exam

  Nineteen out of the thirty-eight directors who were shortlisted to fill permanent secretary vacancies…

1 day ago

Nigerian Man Wanted for Child’s Murder Added to U.S. Marshals’ “15 Most Wanted” List, $25,000 Reward Offered

  A Nigerian man, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, is now among the U.S. Marshals Service’s…

1 day ago

Nigeria’s Foreign Debt Servicing Hits $3.58bn in Nine Months, Pressuring Budgets

  The Nigerian government spent a staggering $3.58 billion on servicing foreign debt within the…

1 day ago

Oyo: Oseni to Launch Mobile Clinic Initiative to Revitalize Rural Healthcare

A member representing Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency of Oyo State at the House of Representatives,…

4 days ago