The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has ordered Pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DSTV, GOTV, to pay it’s subscribers the sum of N150 million as fine for not complying with court orders .
A three-man panel led by Thomas Okusu also ordered the company to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription to its DStv and GOtv Packages on Friday.
The tribunal had previously directed that Multichoice should not raise its subscription fees without proper notice, following a lawsuit initiated by a lawyer, Festus Onifade who claimed the 8-day notice given for the price increase was inadequate.
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Onifade had sued DStv, accusing the Pay-TV of unjustly increasing subscription fees without one month notice to customers and leveraging on it to seek interim orders.
Counsel for Multichoice had contended that previous rulings had settled price regulation issues, while Onifade focused on the inadequate notice rather than the price hike itself, prompting the tribunal to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against Multichoice.
Hearing of the substantive suit has been fixed for July 3.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
