Tribunal Prevents Multi-Choice Ltd From Raising DStv And GOtv Tariffs 

Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited has been ordered by a Competition and Consumer Protection (CCP) Tribunal in Abuja to refrain from increasing its tariffs and costs of products and services, which were set to begin on April 1.

News Agency of Nigeria

Following an ex-parte motion filed by Festus Onifade, a legal practitioner, on behalf of himself and the Coalition of Nigeria Consumers, the three-member tribunal, presided over by Thomas Okosun, issued the order.

Sola Salako Ajulo and Ibrahim EL-Yakubu are among the other members of the tribunal.

Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are the first and second respondents in the suit marked CCPT/OP/1/2022, according to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).

The applicants filed an ex parte motion on March 29 under Sections 39 (1) and (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, Order 26, Rule 5 (2), (3), and 26 Rule 6 (1) and (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, and Sections 47(a), (b), (c), (d) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendants/respondents, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers, or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect on April 1, 2022, until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal,” the applicants had prayed.

“An order of the Honourable Tribunal mandating the 1st defendant/respondents to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“And for such further order or other orders as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”

In its decision, the tribunal ordered Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited to halt its planned increase in tariffs and costs for its products and services while the motion is heard and decided.

“The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby restrained, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022 until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed before this Honourable Tribunal.

“The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby mandated to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” 

The hearing and decision on the motion on notice have been postponed until April 11.

“All parties in this suit are to appear before this Honourable Tribunal on the 11th day of April, 2022,” it ruled.