In a move to defend consumer rights, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to display an interim order at its nationwide branches and headquarters, temporarily suspending the company’s plans to increase DSTV prices and giving consumers a temporary reprieve.
Saratu Shafii, Chairman of the tribunal, has issued a far-reaching order, mandating the display of the document on MultiChoice’s online presence, including email and social media, in addition to physical display at their offices, to maximize visibility and impact.
Festus Onifade, a legal challenger, has successfully obtained an interim order that temporarily blocks MultiChoice’s planned tariff increase on its DStv and Gotv packages, which were scheduled to come into effect on May 1, in a bid to protect consumer interests.
Festus Onifade’s legal challenge, filed as suit CCPT/OP/2/2024, targets two key defendants: MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd, the dominant player in the pay-TV market, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the regulatory body responsible for promoting fair competition.
He sought “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
On Monday, April 29, the tribunal issued an order stopping MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to take effect from May 1.
Read also: MultiChoice Barred From Increasing DSTV, GOTV Tariffs
The three-member tribunal, presided over by Shafii, gave the order following an ex parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant.
The company was restrained from effecting its planned price hike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
However, upon moves by the tribunal to serve Multi-Choice, the bailiff alleged that staff at the Abuja office of the company refused to receive service of the order and other court documents.
The bailiff claimed that one of the company’s top managers at the Abuja office refused to receive the documents and instructed that the documents be sent to the Lagos office, being the headquarters.
To guarantee MultiChoice’s awareness of the ongoing legal proceedings, the tribunal has resorted to an alternative service method, as stipulated in Section 48 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and Part N, Order 14 Rule 11(1) of the CCPT Rule, 2021, subsequent to the bailiff’s report.
According to the certified true copy of the order, the Shaffi-led panel has directed that the ex-parte order in suit number CCPT/OP/2/2024 be posted at MultiChoice Nigeria Limited’s headquarters and all known branch addresses across Nigeria, providing public notice of the legal proceedings.
The chair further instructed that the documents be sent to MultiChoice’s registered email address, social media accounts, and all publicly available communication means, guaranteeing widespread reach. Moreover, the documents will be displayed in the CCPT’s communication hub for maximum visibility.
MultiChoice, a leading Pay-TV operator in Nigeria, has announced a significant price increase for its DStv and GOtv packages, effective May 1, 2024, citing rising business operational costs.
The pay-TV giant justified the price increase by pointing to the soaring cost of business operations in Nigeria, which has put a strain on its resources.