Abuja, Nigeria — Festus Onifade don withdraw im lawsuit wey challenge MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd. over price increase for DStv and GOtv, ending wetin don be months-long legal battle on consumer rights. Court document wey The PUNCH see on Thursday show say Onifade file notice of discontinuance for Federal High Court Abuja on April 7.
The lawyer, wey be long-time DStv user, no give any explanation for im withdrawal against MultiChoice and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The case wey dem register as FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2025 start on February 27 after MultiChoice announce say dem go increase subscription rates from March 1.
In di letter signed by Chief Executive John Ugbe, dem talk say “prevalent economic factors” and “increased operational costs” na wetin cause the adjustment. For di Compact Plus package, di subscription fee rise from N25,500 to N30,000 per month.
Onifade argue for im affidavit say di eight-day notice period wey MultiChoice give no meet di requirement for persons to make adequate decisions as stated under Section 128 of di Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. “Di eight-day window… na unjust, unfair, unreasonable, illegal, grossly inadequate and a breach of my consumer rights,” e write. Dis 때문에 call attention to say MultiChoice dey dominate di market with im role in showing Premier League and European football.
Di lawyer also mention wetin dey happen for one 2022 case wey concern earlier price hike, wey tribunal don rule against MultiChoice. Di company don appeal di decision, talking say dem get procedural flaws and question of jurisdiction. Onifade claim say di pending appeal mean dem no suppose increase price again.
For di February filing, Onifade request multiple remedies, including declaration say di notice period na unlawful, order to suspend di March 1 hike, and N22 million in damages and legal costs. Court rules give di defendants until March 29 to respond, but dem no reply and di tariff increase continue as planned.
Onifade withdrawal, wey happen more than one month later, end di case without any court ruling. Di discontinuance wey Onifade and im colleagues Sa’adah Abdulmalik and Ahmad Usman Ahmad sign, dey served to MultiChoice for Maitama, Abuja and di FCCPC for Asokoro office. Up till Thursday, neither party don talk publicly about di matter.
Before di withdrawal, Onifade don write to MultiChoice on February 27 ask dem to suspend di hike and beg di FCCPC to investigate di matter, warning say if dem no take action, e go force im to seek legal redress.
MultiChoice, wey be unit of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, still dey lead di pay-TV market for Nigeria, where any slight change for pricing dey cause public outcry amidst falling purchasing power.
