MultiChoice Nigeria Limited has slammed with a fine N150 million for falling foul of a contempt of court. While still counting its woes, Nigerians who are subscribers of DSTV and GOTV are to enjoy one-month free subscription.
This was contained in the judgment delivered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, CCPT.
The CCPT on Friday in Abuja, awarded a fine of N150 million against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited. The sanction was for disrespecting its jurisdiction by MultiChoice.
According to report, the tribunal, in a unanimous decision by its three-member panel gave the order. It also ordered MultiChoice to provide Nigerians with a one-month free subscription on its DSTV and GOTV services.
The tribunal made the orders following an ex-parte motion filed on behalf of MultiChoice subscribers by a legal practitioner, Festus Onifade.
The tribunal subsequently fixed July 3 to hear the substantive action that was instituted against the company.
Recalled that the panel had on April 29, restrained MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from effecting its increase in tariffs. The tribunal, had on May 1, ordered the company not to go ahead with its planned increase in its cost of products and services.
Following complaints by MultiChoice customers on the planned increments, Onifade approached the tribunal. He alleged that an eighth day notice the respondent gave before hiking prices of its services, was grossly inadequate.
Onifade stated that the tribunal had in its previous rulings, maintained that at least one month notice must be given to subscribers. This is in course of any increase in prices of both DSTV and GOTV services.
According to report, “The Applicant, in the motion that was moved by his counsel, Ejiro Awaritoma, applied for, “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal. Restraining the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from May 1, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
“Cited as defendants in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, were MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC.
In its ruling, the tribunal granted the interim orders as prayed.
The tribunal restrained MultiChoice from proceeding with its scheduled price increase. This is pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
The tribunal held that “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
However, despite the restraining order, MultiChoice proceeded with its planned tariff hike. Even as it challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to issue the interim orders against it.
source: VANGUARD
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U