The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Friday fined Multichoice Nigeria, the owners of DSTV and GoTv services, the sum of N150 million for disobeying its orders, which restrained the pay-TV company from increasing its monthly subscription pending the determination of the suit brought before it.
The tribunal also ordered the pay-TV company to provide its Nigerian customers with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.
Recall that the tribunal had previously ordered Multichoice not to increase its subscription fees without proper notice, following a lawsuit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who said the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.
Multichoice, on its part, argued that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues.
Onifade insisted the length of notice was inadequate and more pressing than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and ruling against Multichoice.
The court fixed July 3 for a hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.
Multichoice announced third tariff hike in seven months in April and started its implementation on May 2, 2024.
Prior to commencement of implementation, the Tribunal has ordered the company to halt any process on it pending the determination of a motion filed before it.
But the company ignored the order and commenced implementation on May 2.o
