Tribunal orders Multichoice to give Nigerians one-month free subscription

The Competition and Consumer Protection has tribunal ordered the company to provide a one-month free subscription to its subscribers.

Additionally, the Tribunal has fined Multichoice Nigeria, the prominent Pay-TV operator and owner of DSTV and GOTV, ₦150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction.

The verdict was delivered on Friday by a three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu.

This decision followed an earlier order by the tribunal preventing Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice.

The lawsuit, filed by Barrister Festus Onifade, argued that the eight-day notice given by Multichoice for the price increase was insufficient.

Onifade accused DSTV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without giving customers a month’s notice, prompting him to seek interim orders.

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Multichoice’s counsel argued that previous rulings had already addressed price regulation issues.

However, Onifade focused on the inadequate notice, leading the tribunal to assert its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.

The court has scheduled a hearing for the plaintiff’s substantive suit on July 3.