Court Orders Multichoice To Make DSTV, GOTV Subscription Free

Court has ordered Multichoice to make DSTV, and GOTV Subscription Free to all Nigerians for one month.

 

Truetells Nigeria Reports that the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has fined prominent Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, N150 million for challenging the jurisdiction of a court sitting in Abuja that recently restrained it from increasing the prices of its DStv and GOtv packages. 

 

The verdict delivered by three of the panel led by Thomas Okosu on Friday also ordered Multichoice to give Nigerians a one-month free subscription on DSTV and GOTV.

Truetells Nigeria previously reported that the tribunal had restrained MultiChoice from increasing its subscription rates pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Barrister Festus Onifade. 

He said he looked at relevant provisions cited by parties and did not find where an aggrieved consumer who seeks to enforce his rights is required to file a complaint to the President of Nigeria or the Price Control Board. 

The judge also observed that the claimant wrote letters to the FCCPC before filing his case. 

“I have come to the conclusion that this tribunal has the jurisdiction to preside over consumer rights as in the instant case and I resolve this issue against Multichoice,” the judge said. 

Besides, the tribunal held that the claimant’s instant suit is not questioning the Multichoice price hike as claimed by Onibanjo but the illegality of his client’s8-days notice to the customers. 

The Tribunal noted that Multichoice has already disobeyed its interim orders, adding that its action of hiking DSTV and GOTV prices is condemnable and must not be condoned by the Tribunal. 

The tribunal dismissed Multichoice’s preliminary objection for disobeying its interim orders. 

Subsequently, the Tribunal imposed an administrative penalty on Multichoice for failing to comply with an order of the tribunal  

“The first defendant is hereby mandated to pay N150 million penalty. 

“Multichoice is hereby ordered to give Nigerians one month free subscription.”