A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from taking any regulatory steps against MultiChoice Nigeria following its decision to increase DStv and GOtv subscription fees.
The ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday, came in response to an ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Moyosore J. Onibanjo.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025, challenges the FCCPC’s authority to interfere in the company’s pricing decisions.
MultiChoice had notified its customers of a price adjustment, effective March 1, 2025, affecting various DStv and GOtv packages. The changes included:
- DStv Compact: Increased from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000 (25% rise)
- Compact Plus: Increased from ₦25,000 to ₦30,000 (20% rise)
- DStv Premium: Rose from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500 (20% rise)
- GOtv Supa Plus: Increased from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800
The FCCPC, concerned about possible abuse of market monopoly and anti-competitive behaviour, had summoned MultiChoice Nigeria for an investigative hearing on February 27, 2025.
The Commission warned that failure to justify the price hikes could result in regulatory sanctions.
However, MultiChoice challenged this directive, arguing that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where companies set their prices without government intervention.
The company claimed that its subscription rates in Nigeria remain the lowest among all the countries where it operates.
“For instance, the cost of the Premium package in Nigeria is equivalent to $29.81, while the same package costs $85.11 in Kenya,” stated Gozie Onumonu, head of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations at MultiChoice, in an affidavit submitted to the court.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Onibanjo urged the court to grant an interim injunction to prevent the FCCPC from taking punitive action against MultiChoice while the case is pending.
He also pointed out that the Commission had continued to issue statements on the matter despite the ongoing litigation.
After reviewing the submissions, Justice Omotosho granted the restraining order and scheduled an accelerated hearing for March 27, 2025.
The ruling effectively stops the FCCPC from enforcing any sanctions or directives against MultiChoice until the court delivers a final judgment on the matter.
