Court Restricts MultiChoice from Raising DStv Subscription Fees

Weeks after it announced its increased subscription fees, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, has just been restricted by a Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, from implementing its recent hike in DStv subscription tariffs.

BREAKING: Court Halts MultiChoice’s Hike In DStv Subscription Rates | Sahara Reporters
MultiChoice raised the subscription rate for the DSTV from N14,700 to N15,800, from N9,900 to N10,650, from N6,300 to N6,800, from N3,800 to N4,000…
READ MORE: https://t.co/FfA6Tj2yTz pic.twitter.com/m4PcZS7dIs

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) August 20, 2018

In July, MultiChoice raised the monthly subscription fees for the DStv Premium package from N14,700 to N15,800, Compact Plus from N9,900 to N10,650, Compact from N6,300 to N6,800, Family from N3,800 to N4,000, and Access from N1,900 to N2,000. And this increase took effect from August 1st.

This led to the petition of a suit for restraint by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in the light of the strong public interest raised in the application to the court, which they were granted the authority to initiate it based on the law (Section 10 and 16 of the Consumer Protection Council Act, Cap c25, LFN 2004).

Wow!!!

I hear CPC led by @TundeIrukera has obtained an Ex-Parte injunction restraining Multichoice "DSTV" from continuing the new pricing regime pending further investigation by the consumer protection.

This man sef 😂. And he was in court himself. pic.twitter.com/axEUaIv4i6

— ilsa aida (@IlsaAida) August 20, 2018

The application was filed by the CPC on behalf of the Federal Government, with the Director General of the Council, Babatunde Irukera, appearing in court for the case. The application was accompanied with a nine-paragraph statement jointly signed by Messrs Irukera, Abimbola Ojenike, Eme David-Ojugo, Moray Adebayo, Teniola Medupin, and Florence Abebe.

The CPC whose constitutional responsibility is to protect the welfare and interest of consumers in Nigeria said in its statement that DStv‘s business practices and specific conducts were in violation of the law with respect to the rights of consumers in Nigeria.

The Council noted that in the course of its investigation and consultative engagement with MultiChoice Nigeria, DStv “preemptively and surreptitiously introduced a subscription regime which imposes increased charges and costs on Nigerian Consumers of digital satellite television service with effect from 1st August 2018.”

This action is capable of rendering ineffective and nugatory the on-going regulatory investigation which seeks to prevent continuing exploitation of Nigerian consumers through obnoxious and exploitative billing systems and pricing regimes.

Upon this, the court on Monday granted an interim injunction restraining Multichoice Nigeria or its agents and representatives from continuing the implementation of any increased subscription rate or price review policy imposing increased charges and costs on the consumers pending the determination of the motion on notice.

What are the Implications for DStv?

Aside from its restriction from “implementing any of its increased subscription rate or price review”, the court also restrained DStv from carrying on or continuing any conduct or activity which interferes with or has effect of circumventing the outcome of ongoing investigations by the CPC into the company’s compliance or non-compliance with the February 16, 2016 order (over alleged unfairness, arbitrariness and excessiveness of pricing and billing systems) pending the determination of the motion on notice.

Consequently, the case was adjourned by the court to Tuesday, August 28, for hearing.