On Friday, the tribunal imposed a fine on MultiChoice and ordered the company to provide Nigerians with one month of free subscriptions to its DStv and GOtv services.
The issue began when MultiChoice announced a price increase for its DStv and GOtv packages on April 24.
In response, the tribunal issued an order on April 29 to prevent the company from implementing these price hikes, which were set to take effect on May 1.
MultiChoice, represented by its lawyer Moyosore Onibanjo, challenged the tribunal’s order by filing an application on April 30.
Despite this, the tribunal upheld its decision on Friday, citing Section 39 (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Act, which grants the tribunal jurisdiction over all commercial activities aimed at making a profit across the federation.
Thomas Okosu, head of the three-member tribunal panel, imposed an administrative penalty on MultiChoice for failing to comply with the order to halt the price increase.
In a statement regarding the tribunal’s decision, MultiChoice expressed its disagreement.
“MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter,” the company stated.
“We disagree with the ruling and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling.” The company also noted that it would refrain from making further comments as the matter is currently sub judice.
