The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 8 for judgment in the legal dispute between MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over the regulation of pricing for DStv and GOtv services.
Presiding over the case, Justice James Omotosho announced the judgment date after hearing arguments from both parties on whether the FCCPC has the legal authority to prevent MultiChoice from increasing subscription fees.
MultiChoice, represented by its lead counsel, Onigbanjo (SAN), argued that the FCCPC lacks the power to regulate the prices at which the company offers its services. While acknowledging the Commission’s regulatory functions, he insisted that only the President of Nigeria has the constitutional authority to control prices—an option the government has chosen not to exercise. He further accused the FCCPC of discrimination, stating that other businesses have adjusted prices in response to economic conditions without interference.
Conversely, FCCPC’s lead counsel, Professor Joe Agbugu (SAN), defended the Commission’s actions, stating that its role is not to fix prices but to investigate and prevent exploitative pricing and abuse of market dominance. He argued that MultiChoice, as a dominant player in the pay-TV sector, must be scrutinized to ensure fair consumer pricing.
Agbugu revealed that the Commission had asked MultiChoice to delay its price increase while discussions were ongoing. However, the company sought legal protection instead of complying with the regulatory process. He urged the court to dismiss the suit, emphasizing that it challenges the FCCPC’s core mandate of consumer protection.
After hearing both sides, Justice Omotosho reserved judgment for May 8, leaving consumers and industry stakeholders awaiting the court’s ruling on the dispute.
