The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from taking any administrative action against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited following the company’s decision to raise subscription prices for its DStv and GOtv packages.
Justice James Omotosho issued the interim order on Wednesday in response to an ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s legal counsel, Moyosore J. Onibanjo (SAN), against the FCCPC. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025, sought to prevent the Commission from interfering with MultiChoice’s business operations.
The FCCPC had earlier summoned MultiChoice Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer to an investigative hearing on February 27, 2025, questioning the frequent price hikes and raising concerns over potential market dominance abuse and anti-competitive practices.
The Commission warned that failure to justify the price increases or comply with fair market principles could result in regulatory sanctions. However, MultiChoice took legal action to block the Commission’s intervention.
MultiChoice’s legal team argued that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where businesses are not required to seek government approval before adjusting their prices. The company maintained that the FCCPC does not have the legal authority to regulate pricing or suspend price adjustments.
MultiChoice’s affidavit, deposed by its Head of Regulatory Affairs, Gozie Onumonu, claimed that its Nigerian subscription rates were among the lowest in all markets where it operates.
The company further argued that despite the pending lawsuit, the FCCPC continued to take steps against it, including issuing a public statement on March 5, 2025. This, MultiChoice said, necessitated a court injunction.
Justice Omotosho ruled in favour of MultiChoice, restraining the FCCPC from taking any further action against the company until the matter is resolved. He also ordered an accelerated hearing, scheduling the next session for March 27, 2025.
MultiChoice had previously notified its customers of a planned price increase across its DStv and GOtv packages, effective March 1, 2025. The adjustments included: DStv Compact: N15,700 to N19,000 (25% increase); Compact Plus: N25,000 to N30,000 (20% increase); Premium Package: N37,000 to N44,500 (20% increase); and GOtv Supa Plus: N15,700 to N16,800.
In response, the FCCPC not only summoned MultiChoice for questioning but also initiated legal action against the pay-TV giant at a Lagos High Court, citing non-compliance with regulatory directives.
With the court’s latest ruling, MultiChoice has secured temporary relief, but the legal battle over its pricing policies is far from over.
