THE Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has issued an order restraining Multichoice Nigeria Limited from implementing its recent increase in the subscription prices of DSTV and GOTv announced last week to take effect from May 1.
The three-member Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, presided over by Saratu Shafii, issued the order on Monday, April 29, following an ex-parte motion filed before it by Ejiro Awaritoma, Counsel to the applicant, Festus Onifade.
Recall that the fresh prices hike came barely four months after the previous increase, which affects both new subscribers and existing customers renewing their packages.
The pay television service provider had hinged the latest hike on what it called persistent increase in the cost of production within the country.
The increased for packages on both platforms range from about 20 per cent to about 26 per cent, depending on the package.
Onifade had dragged MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to court, in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, filed on April 29.
The suit is seeking “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal, restraining the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called, from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from 1st May, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
In its ruling, the court restrained MultiChoice from implementing the announced prices increment, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
The court ruled: “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
It directed all parties in the suit to appear before it at 10am on May 7, 2024, for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
