MultiChoice Nigeria has announced its intention to appeal the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja, which imposed a N150 million fine on the company.
The tribunal’s decision came after MultiChoice Nigeria was found to have violated an order preventing it from increasing its monthly subscription fees. This order was part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Festus Onifade, an Abuja-based lawyer, who challenged the pay-TV company’s price hike.
In addition to the fine, the tribunal mandated that MultiChoice Nigeria provide a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages for its Nigerian customers. This ruling was aimed at compensating the subscribers who were affected by the subscription increase that occurred despite the tribunal’s previous order.
MultiChoice Nigeria, in its response to the judgment, issued a statement expressing its disagreement with the tribunal’s decision and confirmed its plan to appeal the ruling. The company emphasized its view that the tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on matters of price regulation, which formed the basis of the dispute.
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The statement from MultiChoice Nigeria reads: “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter. We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against the said ruling. As the matter is currently sub-judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”
The ongoing legal tussle highlights the broader regulatory and consumer protection challenges faced by service providers in Nigeria’s competitive pay-TV market. MultiChoice Nigeria, a major player in this sector, has often been at the center of regulatory scrutiny, particularly concerning its pricing policies.
The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched by industry stakeholders, consumers, and regulators alike, as it could set a precedent for how price regulation disputes are handled in the future. For now, MultiChoice Nigeria remains committed to contesting the tribunal’s ruling and upholding its stance on the matter.
