MultiChoice Nigeria, which owns GoTv and DSTV, has declared that it will appeal the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal’s decision from Friday in Abuja. The tribunal fined the corporation N150 million for contesting the court’s jurisdiction.
Last Friday, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal handed a fine of N150 million to Multichoice Nigeria for contempt of court after the company disobeyed the tribunal’s earlier orders.
The orders had expressly restrained MultiChoice from increasing its monthly subscription fees for its DStv and GOtv services, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by Festus Onifade, a lawyer based in Abuja. By increasing its prices despite the tribunal’s orders, MultiChoice Nigeria was found to be in contempt of court, which led to the imposition of the N150 million fine.
Read also: Court stops MultiChoice from increasing DStv, Gotv subscription fees
Multichoice to Appeal Tribunal’s Ruling on Free Subscription Order
The tribunal ordered the pay-TV company to provide Nigerian customers a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.
In response to the ruling, the company disagreed with it and filed an appeal against it.
A portion of the statement said, “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal order regarding its jurisdiction to consider an issue about pricing control. The tribunal will file an appeal against the decision since they disagree with it.
Moyosore Onibanjo (SAN), MultiChoice Attorney, said they cannot comment further as the matter is under appeal. He also stated that he had filed a preliminary objection contesting the court’s jurisdiction over Onifade’s lawsuit.
Moyosore Onibanjo declared that the tribunal should withdraw jurisdiction on the suit filed by Festus Onifade, the complainant, citing a previous case that had been decided in favour of MultiChoice on a similar issue.
Price Hike Battle: Onifade vs Multichoice Nigeria
Onifade had filed lawsuits against MultiChoice Nigeria and the FCCPC, claiming that the pay-TV provider had unfairly raised subscription costs without giving consumers a month’s notice.
Read also: MultiChoice Africa strengthens ICT collaboration with Uganda
The eight-day warning period for the price hike, he claimed, was insufficient. After the litigation, a three-member panel led by Saratu Shafii found in favour of Onifade and directed Multichoice Nigeria to postpone raising its membership prices, which were set to go into effect on May 1, 2024, until after the motion was heard and decided.
Onifade then filed contempt charges against Mohammed Sani, the Manager of MultiChoice Nigeria’s Abuja office, for allegedly disobeying the court order.
He contended that despite being served the order on April 29, the company went ahead with the price hike on May 1.
According to Onigbanjo, he applied on April 30 and questioned the tribunal’s jurisdiction based on its April 29 ruling.