In a groundbreaking verdict, a Nigerian consumer tribunal has slapped Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, MultiChoice Group, with a hefty fine of 150 million naira ($107,142.86) for flouting court directives. The tribunal further mandated MultiChoice to grant its subscribers a complimentary month of service.
The legal skirmish ensued after MultiChoice, renowned for its DSTV and GOTV platforms in Nigeria, enacted a substantial 25% hike in subscription fees, much to the dismay of its clientele.
Initiated by aggrieved subscriber Festus Onifade in April, the lawsuit contended that MultiChoice’s meager eight-day notice preceding the price surge was grossly inadequate. Despite a previous court order to suspend the rate increase, MultiChoice remained obstinate, prompting the tribunal’s intervention.
Under the leadership of Justice Thomas Okosu, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) unequivocally asserted its jurisdiction over consumer rights matters. In defiance of the tribunal’s injunction against price escalation, MultiChoice proceeded with the adjustment, incurring the tribunal’s ire.
MultiChoice, yet to issue a response, faces the daunting task of either complying with the tribunal’s directives or contesting the ruling through legal channels.
This landmark verdict underscores Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding consumer interests and holding corporate entities accountable for their actions. As the legal saga unfolds, consumers await with bated breath, poised to exercise their newfound entitlement to a complimentary month of pay-TV services.
