On Tuesday, September 06, 2022 the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja dismissed a claim filed against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, the operator of satellite television services DSTV and GOTV.
The claim was filed in response to the company’s recent pricing increase.
However, in its decision, the three-member panel tribunal headed by Mr Thomas Okosun dismissed the complaint filed by Mr Festus Onifade on behalf of himself and the coalition of Nigerian consumers as lacking in merit.
MultiChoice was named as the first respondent in the lawsuit, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was named as the second.
The plaintiff petitioned the tribunal shortly after MultiChoice announced its intention to raise subscription fees on all of its products beginning April 1.
Onifade urged the tribunal to impose an order ordering and compelling the cable service provider to adopt a pay-as-you-view model of charging for its products and services in Nigeria in his revised action filed on June 20.
He also requested that N10 million in damages be paid to the corporation.
According to reports, the tribunal approved an ex-parte motion directing the parties to maintain the status quo ante Bellum, but the firm allegedly proceeded with the price rise on DStv and Gotv subscriptions.
Mr Jamiu Agoro, MultiChoice’s counsel, questioned the tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He asked the tribunal to overturn its interlocutory order, claiming that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to bring the action.
Despite affirming its jurisdiction in the case, the tribunal dismissed the case for lack of merit.
According to the tribunal, “only the President has the right to regulate or fix pricing of products and services under specified circumstances, which do not apply in this case.”
It further claimed that the claimants were unable to demonstrate how the hike caused them psychological trauma or hardship, or how their rights were violated.
