BY BONNY AMADI
Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed a lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe, its chief executive officer (CEO) for “violating” regulatory directives and obstructing an ongoing inquiry.
The FCCPC spoke in a statement on Wednesday signed by Ondaja Ijagwu, its director of corporate affairs.
It will be recalled that recently, precisely on Friday February 07, 2025, the Federal High court in Lagos ruled in affirmation of FC- CPC’s statutory authority to regulate competition and consumer protection across all the sectors, including telecommunications.
The case heard before justice F, N Ogazi was instituted by Emeka Nnubia, a shareholder of MTN and a legal practitioner who sought to halt the FCCPC’s investigation into MTN Nigeria.
Representing himself, Nnubia argued that the FCCPC’s inquiry could violate data protection laws and that regulatory authority over MTN resides with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) rather than the FCCPC.
Meanwhile in pursuant of its regulatory commission, the FCCPC frowned at Multichoice action in February, when it officially announced an increase in the price of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages, with effect from March 1.
The announcement, which came nearly one year after its subscription rates were hiked, led to public criticism, forcing the FCCPC to intervene.
In response, the FCCPC directed the CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria to appear at its headquarters on February 27 for an investigative hearing to address the company’s planned subscription fee increase.
The agency also asked the pay TV firm to halt the subscription price hike pending an ongoing probe.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, FCCPC said despite the warning to suspend the move, MultiChoice Nigeria proceeded with the increase.
As a result, the commission said it filed charges against the firm for “engaging in conduct deemed violations of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018”.
“Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences under the FCCPA 2018, specifically for wilfully obstructing the Commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives (Section 33(4)), impeding the ongoing investigation by ignoring instructions to suspend the hike (Section 110), and attempting to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without abjection (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)).l,” the statement reads.
“The Commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law.
“By disregarding the FCCPC’s directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the Commission’s investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has not only flouted regulatory processes but also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition.”
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