MultiChoice had initially been fined $0.090m and ordered to provide a one-month free subscription.
MultiChoice Nigeria has been permitted to implement price increases on its DStv and GOtv subscriptions after consumer rights lawyer Festus Onifade withdrew his case against the pay-TV company.
Onifade initially filed the lawsuit in May, accusing MultiChoice of failing to provide the required one-month notice before raising subscription fees in April 2024. He claimed that the company violated a court order by proceeding with the price hike on May 1, 2024. In response, Onifade sought to have MultiChoice’s Abuja Manager, Mohammed Sageer Sani, jailed for contempt of court.
This legal action followed an earlier tribunal decision that temporarily restrained MultiChoice from increasing its prices. The tribunal also dismissed a preliminary objection from MultiChoice’s lawyer, Moyosore Onibanjo (SAN), and fined the company N150m. Additionally, MultiChoice was ordered to provide Nigerian subscribers with one month’s free service as compensation.
MultiChoice appealed the fine, with the case set to be heard in November. Onifade reportedly feared that the company would use the appeal process to overturn the tribunal’s decision.
