ABUJA – The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) imposed a N150 million fine on MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on Friday, June 7, for defying its authority by disregarding an earlier order.
The verdict was delivered by a three-man panel chaired by Thomas Okusu. The tribunal had previously issued an order preventing MultiChoice from increasing subscription fees without proper notice. This action stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Barrister Festus Onifade, who argued that the eight-day notice given for the price hike was insufficient.
Onifade’s lawsuit accused DSTV of unjustly raising subscription fees without providing the mandated one-month notice to customers, seeking interim reliefs to halt the increase. In a unanimous decision, the tribunal ruled that MultiChoice must offer Nigerian customers a one-month free subscription to its DSTV and GOTV services.
The tribunal has scheduled a hearing for the substantive case against MultiChoice for July 3.