On Friday, a Nigerian consumer tribunal fined the local unit of Africa’s biggest pay-TV company, MultiChoice Group, 150 million naira ($107,142.86) for contempt of court.
The tribunal also ordered the company to offer its subscribers one month of free service. This ruling came after MultiChoice Nigeria defied a previous order to halt a price increase on its services.
MultiChoice, which operates pay-TV services DSTV and GOTV in Nigeria, increased subscription rates by about 25% in May. This abrupt increase drew numerous complaints from subscribers.
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The decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) followed a lawsuit filed by subscriber Festus Onifade in April, who argued that MultiChoice’s eight-day notice before the price hike was insufficient.
The CCPT had previously restrained MultiChoice from raising prices on April 29. However, MultiChoice challenged the court’s jurisdiction and proceeded with the increase.
On Friday, the tribunal, led by Justice Thomas Okosu asserted its authority over consumer rights cases and imposed a fine on MultiChoice for defying its order.
MultiChoice did not immediately respond to a comment request, and its lawyers have not yet indicated whether they will appeal the ruling.
As a result of the tribunal’s ruling, MultiChoice subscribers in Nigeria will receive one month of free service. This decision is seen as a win for consumer rights in the country, ensuring that companies adhere to regulatory decisions and consumer protection laws.
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