Tribunal orders Multichoice to give Nigerans one month free DSTV/GoTV subscription

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has ordered Multichoice Nigeria, the owners of DSTV and GoTV services, to give subscribers on the platforms one month free subscription.

A three-man panel of the tribunal led by Justice Thomas Okosu delivered the ruling on Friday in Abuja while also fining Multichoice N150 million for disobeying its orders, which restrained the pay-TV companny from increasing the prices of satellite TV packages.

Recall that the tribunal had previously ordered the company not to increase its subscription fees without proper notice, following a lawsuit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who said the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.

Multichoice, on its part, argued that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues. But Onifade insisted the length of notice was inadequate and more pressing than the price hike itself.

This prompted the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and ruling against Multichoice. It then fixed July 3 for a hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.