By Jane Mukoro
This is not the best of time for the MultiChoice Nigeria Limited.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT), sitting in Abuja, on Friday, June 7, awarded a fine of N150 million against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited for disrespecting its jurisdiction by flouting its order.
A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu gave the verdict.
The tribunal had previously blocked Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice, based on a lawsuit by Barrister Festus Onifade who claimed the eight-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.
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Onifade had sued DSTV, accusing the Pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month’s notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders.
However, the tribunal, in a unanimous decision by its three-member panel, equally ordered MultiChoice to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription on its DSTV and GOTV services. The tribunal subsequently fixed July 3 to hear the substantive action that was instituted against the company.
