DStv, GOtv fined ₦150m, ordered to provide free month subscription

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has fined prominent Pay-TV operator Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DStv and GOtv, ₦150 million for disputing the court’s jurisdiction and ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv packages.

A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu gave the verdict on Friday.

The tribunal had previously blocked Multichoice from raising subscription fees without proper notice, based on a lawsuit by Barrister Festus Onifade, who claimed the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.

Mr. Onifade had sued DStv, accusing the Pay-TV company of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month’s notice to customers and leveraged it to seek interim orders.

Counsel for Multichoice had contended that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues, while Onifade focused on the inadequate notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.

The court subsequently fixed July 3 for the hearing of the substantive suit of the plaintiff.