The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 8, 2025, for judgment in a lawsuit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria Limited against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The suit seeks to prevent the FCCPC from imposing sanctions on MultiChoice for its recent increase in DStv and Gotv subscription rates.
The decision was made after legal counsel for both parties, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, representing MultiChoice, and Prof. J.E.O. Abugu, SAN, representing the FCCPC, presented their arguments and adopted their respective processes in the ongoing suit.
In March 2025, Justice James Omotosho had issued an order restraining the FCCPC from sanctioning MultiChoice pending the hearing and determination of the case. The court’s intervention came after the FCCPC summoned MultiChoice to explain its March 1 price hike, citing concerns over frequent increases, potential market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV sector.
MultiChoice, through an ex-parte motion filed on March 3, sought an interim injunction to prevent any action by the FCCPC until the court resolves the dispute. The company argued that the FCCPC had no authority to regulate the price of its services, referencing a previous ruling by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (FCCPT), which held that price regulation is the responsibility of the President of Nigeria, not regulatory bodies like the FCCPC.
On the other hand, FCCPC’s lawyer, Prof. Abugu, argued that the commission has the mandate to oversee potential market abuse, including exploitative pricing, under the FCCPC Act of 2018. He maintained that the commission’s role is to protect consumers and ensure fair practices across all sectors, not just the pay-TV industry. Abugu also denied any discriminatory action against MultiChoice, emphasizing that the FCCPC’s intervention was in line with its regulatory powers.
The court proceedings have sparked a significant debate over the regulatory authority of the FCCPC and whether it has the power to control pricing practices in certain sectors, including the pay-TV industry.
Justice Omotosho has reserved judgment until May 8, when he will issue his ruling on whether the FCCPC has the right to sanction MultiChoice for its subscription increase or if the company’s request for an injunction will be granted.
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