According to a charge sheet, FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, the commission alleges that the accused wilfully failed to appear before it on March 6, 2025, following an official summons issued on February 25. 

The document lists John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other directors as defendants.

This follows the Federal High Court’s dismissal of a suit filed by MultiChoice on May 8, which sought legal backing for its controversial price hike on DStv and GOtv subscriptions. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the suit was “an abuse of court process”.

The FCCPC claims that the accused deliberately failed to submit documents relevant to its probe, a breach of section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018. 

The charge sheet states: “Being Directors of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, [they] caused the aforesaid MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents which the Company was required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons issued and dated 25 February, 2025, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018.”

Beyond failing to appear, the commission says MultiChoice’s leadership actively hindered its investigation by refusing to disclose requested documents, an act the FCCPC considers a direct challenge to its regulatory authority.

When the matter came up in court on Tuesday, the Commission’s lawyer informed Justice Omotosho that while the company had been served, the individual directors named in the charge had not yet received personal service. Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case until October 7, 2025, for arraignment.

This issue is rooted in FCCPC’s concerns over repeated and unexplained price increases by MultiChoice. In February, the Commission summoned Ugbe to explain what it described as “frequent price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and anti-competitive practices.” It warned that failure to provide clear justification could trigger regulatory sanctions.

MultiChoice objected, filing a case through its legal team led by Onigbanjo SAN. The company argued it had not been given a fair hearing and sought to block the Commission from taking further action, citing a letter dated March 3, 2025. The court, however, dismissed the suit, stating that it was an attempt to stall accountability.

The commission had directed MultiChoice Nigeria on 27 February to maintain its existing subscription rates for DStv and GOtv while it conducted a review of the company’s proposed price increase. However, MultiChoice proceeded with the price hike on 1 March, disregarding the order.

In response, the FCCPC filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, accusing MultiChoice and its CEO of wilfully obstructing the commission’s inquiry, impeding an ongoing investigation, and attempting to delude the regulatory body by proceeding with the hike despite clear objections.

The commission described the company’s move as a deliberate attempt to overlook regulatory oversight and market adequacy, stating that such conduct denies consumers the protections guaranteed by law. 

Beyond the legal proceedings, the FCCPC is also considering additional enforcement measures, including sanctions and penalties, to ensure compliance and accountability. 

The commission reiterated that it will continually protect consumers from exploitative businesses and hold all industry bodies accountable.

The Statement read in full:

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, obstructing an ongoing inquiry and engaging in conduct deemed violations of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

MultiChoice Nigeria had been expressly directed by the FCCPC on February 27, 2025 to maintain its current pricing structure for DStv and GOt pending the conclusion of an examination of its proposed price hike. However, despite this directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on March 1, 2025, in clear defiance of the Commission’s directive.

Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences under the FCCPA 2018, specifically for willfully obstructing the Commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives (Section 33(4)), impeding the ongoing investigation by ignoring instructions to suspend the hike (Section 110), and attempting to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without objection (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)).

The Commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law. By disregarding the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the Commission’s investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition.

In addition to these legal actions, the FCCPC is reviewing further enforcement measures, including sanctions, penalties, and regulatory interventions, to ensure compliance and accountability.

The FCCPC is committed to protecting Nigerian consumers from exploitative business practices and ensuring that dominant players in any sector adhere to fair market principles and legal compliance.”

This strategic Showmax relaunch is in partnership with industry giants Multichoice Group, Comcast, NBC Universal, and Sky.

Showmax’s General Manager in Nigeria, Opeoluwa Filani, representing John Ugbe, the CEO, expressed gratitude during the pre-launch event, stating, “It’s an absolute delight to stand before you as we usher in a new era for Showmax in collaboration with Comcast, NBC Universal, and Sky.”

Filani highlighted the importance of this collaboration, emphasizing the creation of a new Showmax that reflects the changing environment of streaming video on demand services. He also mentioned the upcoming February launch, promising a brand-new look, an innovative app, and an entirely revamped product supported by cutting-edge technology.

“Our steadfast dedication lies in amplifying indigenous content creation, championing narratives that authentically represent Africa’s rich cultural heritage,” said Filani, underlining Showmax’s commitment to local content.

Filani detailed Showmax’s journey, which aims to elevate Nigeria’s storytelling to a global audience. He highlighted the platform’s role as a pioneer, empowering local creators and showcasing their talents to the world through a diverse range of Nigerian originals and culturally relevant shows.

To assert Showmax’s commitment to local content, Filani revealed an extensive library of over 80,000 hours of content, emphasizing the platform’s focus in driving the surge of streaming video on demand in the region.

“We have an expansive African operational footprint that benefits Showmax from our fiscal offices to sales forces, marketing teams, regulatory, finance, and legal teams,” Filani stated, emphasizing Showmax’s strong position in the market.

The revelation of collaborations with industry giants like HBO, was noted to facilitate a surge in international content. Filani also mentioned upcoming live sports offerings tailored to the audience of football lovers in Nigeria.

“With over 50 million smartphones in the hands of Nigerians, our new Showmax production is set to address a substantial market,” Filani said.

The partnership with the English Premier League was a major highlight, with Showmax introducing a mobile-only subscription that grants access to all 386 games for an affordable monthly fee, starting from February 23, 2024.

CEO of the Premier League, Richard Masters, acknowledged the strength of the partnership with Multichoice and expressed excitement about the new initiative, stating, “The Premier League in your pocket with a new price point to watch all Premier League matches on mobile phones.”

Arinola Shobande, Head of Marketing for Showmax Nigeria, added a personal touch to the announcement, emphasizing the exceptional features of the new Showmax. She highlighted the platform’s curated content, improved search functionality, and optimized streaming experience, promising users the ability to stream for 24 hours with just one gig of data.

“This product is not just about streaming on demand; it’s a new experience. It’s all about falling in love with content all over again. This is Showmax. Welcome to the new era,” Shobande exclaimed.

Shobande highlighted the two-year journey that led to the creation of an exceptional product, noting its accessibility to both high and low-income earners. “We didn’t rebrand because the product was broken; it was already good. We wanted to elevate it into something exceptional,” she asserted.

The cornerstone of this rebrand is the new Showmax logo, an identity beyond mere colors and symbols. The orange colour is a gradient that describes how the sun rises and you can only see that in Africa.

Shobande explained that the logo tells a story, portraying how Showmax connects Africans to the content they love. She noted that the rebrand is a result of extensive research and collaboration with people from all over Africa.

The mission at Showmax, as stated by Shobande, is to offer an effortless platform providing affordable access to a wide array of content. With prices as low as N1200, Showmax aims to cater to hardworking Africans, allowing them to enjoy quality entertainment without breaking the bank. Shobande expressed gratitude to the technical team and customers who actively participated in trials, stating the extensive effort that went into creating the new app.

Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, then took the stage to shed light on the exciting content lineup for Showmax’s relaunch. Tejumola announced the release of 21 new titles across Africa, with Nigeria set to receive five. She highlighted shows like “Chetam,” an epic drama series, and “Free Men,” a documentary series on the apprenticeship system in the East.

The content revelation continued with insights into Showmax’s impressive production statistics. Tejumola revealed that Showmax has produced over 1300 hours of originals, a 150% increase from the previous year. She emphasized the impact on local economies and communities, showcasing Showmax’s commitment to providing diverse and engaging content.

During a panel session, Showmax’s primary focus on the African market was discussed, touching on the strategic relaunch, emphasizing a commitment to delivering the best service, technology, and content for African viewers. Plans to potentially expand to other markets were hinted at, but the immediate focus remained on Africa.

A notable highlight of the panel session was the clarification on Showmax’s decision to make Premier League content available exclusively on mobile devices. The emphasis was on Africa being a mobile-first continent, with over 450 million mobile phones. The move aims to make the EPL accessible to a broader audience, aligning with the evolving consumer behavior.

The executives addressed questions regarding Showmax’s standalone nature, subscription models, and competition. They reaffirmed Showmax’s focus on providing quality content at affordable prices, speaking on the hyperlocal strategy and partnerships that secure access to extensive international content libraries.

As the event concluded, Showmax confirmed that the new app will be available for download from January 23rd, existing users will maintain initial login details, with a seamless migration process. By February 12, all 44 countries will have migrated into the new Showmax app.