The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed a lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, over alleged violations of regulatory directives and consumer protection laws. The legal action stems from the company’s recent price hike on its DStv and GOtv subscription packages, which was implemented despite explicit instructions from the FCCPC to maintain current pricing pending an ongoing investigation.
In a statement released by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, the commission accused MultiChoice of breaching provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. The statement, shared on the FCCPC’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, outlined the charges against the company, including obstruction of an inquiry, impeding an investigation, and providing misleading information.
MultiChoice had announced a price adjustment for its subscription packages in February 2025, with increases set to take effect on March 1. Under the new pricing structure:
The DStv Compact package rose from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000 (a 25% increase).
The Compact Plus package increased from ₦25,000 to ₦30,000 (a 20% hike).
The Premium plan jumped from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500 (a 20% rise).
GOtv users also faced increases, with the Supa Plus plan moving from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800.
The FCCPC raised concerns over these frequent price hikes and summoned MultiChoice’s CEO to an investigative hearing scheduled for February 27, 2025. The commission questioned whether these adjustments reflected anti-competitive practices or an abuse of market dominance in Nigeria’s pay-TV industry. It also directed MultiChoice to suspend the price hike until investigations were concluded.
Despite this directive, MultiChoice implemented the new pricing on March 1, prompting the FCCPC to take legal action.
The FCCPC filed charges at the Federal High Court in Lagos on three counts:
Obstruction of an Inquiry: MultiChoice allegedly violated Section 33(4) of the FCCPA by proceeding with the price hike despite regulatory orders.
Impeding an Investigation: The company reportedly disregarded directives to halt the increase during the inquiry process, contravening Section 110 of the FCCPA.
Providing Misleading Information: MultiChoice is accused of enforcing the price adjustment without addressing regulatory concerns, breaching Section 159(2) of the FCCPA.
The commission described these actions as deliberate attempts to undermine regulatory authority and deny Nigerian consumers adequate protection under the law.
Beyond initiating legal proceedings, the FCCPC has indicated that additional enforcement measures may follow. These could include sanctions or other regulatory interventions aimed at ensuring compliance with consumer protection laws. The commission emphasized its commitment to safeguarding consumers against exploitative business practices while promoting fair competition in Nigeria’s pay-TV sector.
