The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, over alleged violations of regulatory directives and obstruction of an ongoing inquiry.
The commission also accused the company of breaching provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
This was disclosed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, in a statement posted on the Commission’s official X account.
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, obstructing an ongoing inquiry and engaging in conduct deemed violations of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018,” the statement read.
Naijaonpoint reported that MultiChoice had informed its customers about a planned price increase across its DStv and GOtv packages, set to take effect on March 1, 2025.
Emphasizing consumer protection, the Commission stated that maintaining the current pricing was “essential to prevent any potential consumer harm during this period.”
However, despite this directive, MultiChoice went ahead with the price increase on March 1, 2025, in direct violation of the Commission’s instructions.
As a result, the FCCPC filed legal charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts:
The Commission views MultiChoice’s actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers protection under the law.
By implementing the price hike before appearing at the Commission’s investigative hearing scheduled for March 6, 2025, the company has been accused of non-compliance with due regulatory process and consumer protection laws.
Beyond the legal proceedings, the FCCPC has indicated that it is reviewing additional enforcement measures, including potential sanctions and regulatory interventions, to ensure MultiChoice complies with consumer protection laws.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Nigerian consumers against exploitative business practices while ensuring that dominant market players operate in accordance with fair market principles and legal regulations.