Multichoice Nigeria has said it will appeal Friday’s ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT, which slammed a N150 million fine against it for challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

Also, CCPT ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription on DStv and GOtv.

The tribunal had previously restrained Multichoice from increasing subscription fees without adequate notice, following a suit by Festus Onifade who argued that the 8-day notice given by Multichoice for a price hike was insufficient.

Reacting to the ruling, Multichoice Nigeria said it disagrees with the ruling and will file an appeal against it.

The statement reads: “MultiChoice Nigeria is aware of the recent ruling by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT, regarding its jurisdiction to entertain a price regulation matter.

“We disagree with the ruling, and will therefore file an appeal against said ruling.

“As the matter is currently sub judice, we are restrained from making further comments.”

The suit

Onifade, who sued Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, accused the pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one-month notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders against Pay TV.

A three-member tribunal chaired by Saratu Shafii had ruled in favour of Onifade by restraining Multichoice in the  interim, in the suit marked CCPT/OP/2/2024.

It restrained the pay TV from going ahead with the impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.