Multichoice Nigeria, a leading pay-TV operator, has filed an appeal against the recent ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.
The Tribunal had imposed a N150 million fine on Multichoice and ordered a free one-month subscription on DSTV and GOTV, following Multichoice’s preliminary objection challenging the Tribunal’s jurisdiction and other reliefs.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Multichoice has entered a “notice of appeal” against the Tribunal’s ruling.
The three-member tribunal, led by Thomas Okosu, mandated Multichoice to provide Nigerians with a free month of DSTV and GOTV subscriptions for violating interim orders that restrained the company from hiking its subscription prices.
The Tribunal had initially prohibited Multichoice from increasing its subscription rates pending the resolution of a motion filed by Barrister Festus Onifade.
Onifade accused Multichoice of unjustly raising subscription fees without providing a one-month notice to customers, which led to the interim orders against the pay-TV operator.
The Tribunal had initially prohibited Multichoice from increasing its subscription rates pending the resolution of a motion filed by Barrister Festus Onifade.
Onifade accused Multichoice of unjustly raising subscription fees without providing a one-month notice to customers, which led to the interim orders against the pay-TV operator.
The Tribunal, chaired by Saratu Shafii, ruled in favor of Onifade, restraining Multichoice from implementing the price increase scheduled for May 1, 2024, until the motion’s final determination.
However, Multichoice’s lawyer, Moyosore J. Onibanjo (SAN), filed a preliminary objection, urging the court to dismiss Onifade’s suit on jurisdictional grounds, arguing that similar price disputes had previously been decided in favor of Multichoice.
Onifade contended that the core issue was whether Multichoice Nigeria provided adequate notice of the May 1, 2024, subscription increase, rather than the regulation or justification of the price hike itself.
