The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has ordered Multichoice Nigeria to provide a one-month free subscription to its customers. This decision comes after the tribunal fined the Pay-TV operator ₦150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction over a case concerning subscription price increases.
The case, initiated by Barrister Festus Onifade, challenged Multichoice’s decision to hike subscription fees without providing a one-month notice to customers, as required by law. The tribunal had previously issued an interim order restraining Multichoice from implementing the proposed price increase scheduled for May 1, 2024.
During the proceedings, Multichoice’s legal representative, Moyosore J. Onibanjo (SAN), filed a preliminary objection, urging the court to decline jurisdiction because similar price dispute cases had been settled in favour of Multichoice in the past. However, the tribunal, led by Justice Thomas Okosu, asserted its jurisdiction and ruled against Multichoice, leading to the fine and the order for a one-month free subscription for Nigerian customers on DStv and GOtv platforms.
This ruling is seen as a significant victory for consumer rights and fair pricing practices in Nigeria. Multichoice has yet to respond to the tribunal’s decision, and it remains to be seen how this will affect the company’s operations and customer relations moving forward.
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