Abuja Court Stops DSTV From Increasing Subscription Fees In Nigeria

Agency ReporterAugust 22, 2018

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The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Monday, stopped Multichoice Nigeria Limited from proceeding with its decision to increase DSTV subscription tariff.
The court, in a ruling by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, issued the restraining order based on a suit that was lodged by the Consumer Protection Council, CPC.

CPC had in a public interest suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/894/18, applied for an interim injunction restraining Multichoice Nigeria or its agents and representatives from continuing the implementation of any increase in subscription rates or price review policy imposing increased charges and costs on its customers, pending the determination of the motion on notice before the court.

The Council further persuaded the court to accelerate hearing of the matter.

In a nine-paragraph affidavit that was attached to the suit, CPC, maintained that it has the constitutional responsibility to protect the welfare and interest of consumers in Nigeria.

It told the court that it had in the exercise of its statutory mandate, conducted an investigation into DSTV’s compliance with a directive it gave on February 16, 2016, following series of petitions it received on alleged unfairness, arbitrariness and excessiveness of pricing and billing systems by the cable service provider.

It said it was also reviewing other issues relating to whether DSTV‘s business practices and specific conducts were in violation of the law and rights of consumers in Nigeria.