A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria over regulatory actions taken against its recent subscription fee increases for DStv and GOtv packages.
Presiding Judge James Omotosho ruled that MultiChoice’s action was procedurally improper and amounted to an abuse of the judicial process.
He emphasized that the company was aware of an existing case—filed earlier by Festus Onifade on similar grounds—and should have addressed its concerns within that legal proceeding.
The judge clarified that while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has oversight over market fairness and dominance, it cannot arbitrarily suspend price hikes without a comprehensive investigation.
Omotosho further stated that the authority to fix or control prices lies solely with the Nigerian President, and even then, such regulation must affect an entire sector rather than targeting one entity.
The court also ruled that the FCCPC overstepped its bounds by directing MultiChoice to halt its price adjustments before completing a probe.
Even though the court acknowledged Nigeria’s free-market principles—where companies are entitled to set their pricing—it struck out the suit because it was filed incorrectly.
MultiChoice had implemented new rates starting March 1, 2025, citing inflation as the reason.
The announcement sparked backlash from customers and prompted regulatory scrutiny.
The FCCPC responded by summoning the company and threatening penalties, which led MultiChoice to seek legal protection.
Ultimately, the court concluded that despite having a valid argument regarding market freedom, MultiChoice’s case could not proceed due to its procedural missteps.
