The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed legal charges against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its CEO, John Ugbe, for allegedly defying regulatory directives on subscription price adjustments.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the FCCPC's Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, disclosed that the charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos following MultiChoice's decision to proceed with a price hike for DStv and GOtv on March 1, despite regulatory orders to suspend the increase.
On February 27, the FCCPC directed MultiChoice to halt the planned price adjustments until the conclusion of an ongoing investigation. However, the company ignored the directive and proceeded with the new pricing structure, prompting the commission to take legal action.
The lawsuit is based on three key allegations:
1. Obstructing a regulatory investigation by implementing the price hike despite an active inquiry (Section 33(4) of the FCCPA 2018).
2. Failing to comply with regulatory directives by ignoring the suspension order (Section 110).
3. Attempting to mislead the commission by implementing the hike without approval (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)).
Read also
The FCCPC described MultiChoice's actions as a deliberate disregard for regulatory oversight, stating that the company's conduct disrupts market fairness and violates consumer protection rights.
"By disregarding the FCCPC's directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the commission's investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition," the statement read.
In response to the lawsuit, the FCCPC is also considering additional enforcement measures, including regulatory sanctions, to ensure compliance.
MultiChoice had earlier announced the price adjustments in a notice to customers, citing rising operational costs as the reason for the new pricing structure.
While some premium packages, such as DStv Compact Plus and Premium, remain at ₦30,000 and ₦44,500 respectively, other subscriptions, including the DStv Compact package, have been affected by the increase.
With the legal battle now underway, the outcome of the case could set a precedent for regulatory enforcement in Nigeria's pay-TV industry.
