A Competition and Consumer Protection (CCPC) Tribunal in Abuja, on Monday, approved a request by a lawyer to amend and refile his N10 million suit challenging MultiChoice Nigeria Limited for increasing the subscription fees for its television services.
The lawyers are praying the tribunal for an order, restraining MultiChoice from increasing the subscription rates for its DSTV and GOTV television services and other products.
Festus Onifade, lawyer, and the Coalition of Nigeria Consumers jointly sued MultiChoice – operators of DSTV and GOTV in Nigeria and FCCPC.
The company had set an April 1 date to commence the new price regime.
But the plaintiff had urged the court to stop the price hike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated and filed on March 30.
The tribunal granted the ex-parte motion directing parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the whole suit.
The claimant, Mr Onifade, seeks substantively the order of the tribunal directing MultiChoice to adopt to a pay-as-you-view model of billing for all its products and services immediately.
At Monday’s proceedings, a three-member tribunal headed by Thomas Okosun granted Mr Onifade’s prayers in an application seeking leave to amend his initial court filings.
Subsequently, the tribunal ordered Jamiu Agoro, MultiChoice’s lawyer, to file their responses to the new application within 21 days.
The suit was adjourned until July 21 for hearing.
Multichoice had said from April 1, subscribers will pay more for all its bouquets and its premium package on DSTV will cost N21,000, no longer N18,400.
