Tariff Hikes: Tribunal Dismisses Suit Against MultiChoice

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The court dismissed the suit, citing lack of jurisdiction.

In the suit, the plaintiffs challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative and unfair.

The plaintiffs prayed the court to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.

They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.

MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.

In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised which were pricing and tariff regulation fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the president, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.