Yemi Obafemi
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja has ruled in favour of an Abuja-based lawyer Festus Onifade, stopping Multi-Choice from increasing it’s products and services.
Multi-choice had recently announced price increments across its DStv and GOtv packages effective May 1, 2024.
The chairman of the tribunal, Saratu Shafii, made the order dated April 29, 2024, rulling that its interim order, restraining MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from increasing DSTV tariff, be pasted at the firm’s “corporate headquarters or anyknown address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria.”
Onifade who is aggrieved by MultiChoice recent announcement to increase the tariffs on its DStv and Gotv packages effective from May 1.
In his suit, marked CCPT/OP/2/2024, Onifade listed MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as defendants.
He sought “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 scheduled 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.”
Following the bailiff’s feedback, that the staffs in Abuja didn’t accept the document containing the restrain order.
The tribunal issued an order of substituted service on MultiChoice pursuant to Section 48 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018; and Part N, Order 14 Rule 11(1) of the CCPT Rule, 2021.
In the certified true copy of the order of substituted service, the court directed that the ex-parte order in suit number: CCPT/OP/2/2024, be pasted at the corporate headquarters or any known address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria
