On Thursday, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) did not contest the recent hike in prices for DStv and GOtv subscriptions by MultiChoice Nigeria Limited.
FCCPC’s stance was revealed through its lawyer, Nikiomari Abeke, during a session of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the tribunal, chaired by Thomas Okosun, comprises three members.
Previously, on April 29, the CCPT had issued an order preventing MultiChoice from implementing the price increase scheduled for May 1. This interim order came as a result of a motion filed by Festus Onifade, who sought to halt the price hike pending a full hearing.
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The tribunal, led by Saratu Shafii, instructed all parties to appear for a hearing on May 7.
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Onifade, who is also a legal practitioner, filed the suit (marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024) against MultiChoice and the FCCPC, seeking an interim injunction to stop the price increase until the motion could be fully addressed.
MultiChoice, represented by Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, challenged the tribunal’s jurisdiction, arguing that a similar case had previously been decided in their favor.
Onigbanjo presented a prior tribunal judgment (suit no CCPT/OP/1/2022) as evidence, contending that the tribunal could not revisit the issue.
“The tribunal cannot sit in appeal over its own decisions,” he argued, asserting that the tribunal was not the correct venue for regulating MultiChoice’s pricing and services.
Onifade countered, stating that his complaint was not about price regulation but about the adequacy of the notice given for the price increase. He argued that the 8-day notice provided by MultiChoice was legally insufficient, asserting that monthly subscribers should receive at least a month’s notice.
Abeke, representing the FCCPC, confirmed that the commission did not oppose MultiChoice’s preliminary objection and had not filed any counter-motion.
After hearing the arguments, the tribunal adjourned the case until June 7 for a ruling.