The Competition and Consumer Protection 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 tribunal also mandated the company to provide a one-month free subscription to its subscribers.
The verdict was delivered on Friday by a three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu.
The tribunal’s decision follows a previous order blocking Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice. This order was based on a lawsuit filed by Barrister Festus Onifade, who argued that the eight-day notice given for the price increase was insufficient.
Onifade accused DSTV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without providing the required one-month notice to customers. While Multichoice’s counsel argued that previous rulings had settled issues related to price regulation, Onifade focused on the inadequate notice, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.
The tribunal emphasized the need for adequate consumer protection and proper notice regarding subscription fee changes. The court has scheduled July 3 for the hearing of the plaintiff’s substantive suit.