Broadcasting
Tribunal Dismisses DStv, GOtv Price Hike Case
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has struck out a subscription price hike case instituted against MultiChoice Nigeria.
A three-member tribunal struck out the suit following a request by Festus Onifade, the claimant, to withdraw his case against MultiChoice.
Onifade who made an oral application for the withdrawal said he no longer intends to proceed with the matter.
He also expressed the view that MultiChoice would leverage the period of the court’s annual vacation to argue its appeal at the Court of Appeal and frustrate his case.
“I am abandoning this matter. I am withdrawing this case,” he said while explaining that he had filed the suit to challenge the alleged oppressive attitude of multinationals toward Nigerian consumers.
Moyosore Onigbanjo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, counsel to MultiChoice, stated that he had no objection to the claimant’s request to withdraw.
Counsel for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also had no objections.
The tribunal granted Onifade’s Request.
“The oral application of the claimant to withdraw this suit is hereby granted. No cost is awarded,” the tribunal ruled.
On April 29, the tribunal stopped MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs, and subscription rates pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Onifade.
A three-member tribunal had ruled in favour of Onifade by temporarily restraining MultiChoice from implementing the impending price increase scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2024,
But MultiChoice had appealed the decision and filed for a stay of proceedings.
Onigbanjo said MultiChoice had filed a preliminary objection urging the court to decline jurisdiction over the suit filed by Festus Onifade and to strike it out, arguing that a similar price dispute case had previously been decided in favour of his client.
Onifade argued that the issue before the court was whether MultiChoice Nigeria provided adequate notice regarding the May 1, 2024, TV subscription price increase, not about price regulation or increase.
In its ruling, the three-member panel chaired by Thomas Okosu dismissed MultiChoice’s preliminary objection for disobeying its interim orders and subsequently imposed a 150 million naira administrative penalty on MultiChoice, along with a one-month subscription order against the Pay TV provider.
MultiChoice has subsequently filed an appeal against the ruling, arguing that the tribunal erred in its decision.
The company also filed counter-affidavits dated July 12, 2024, providing reasons for its price hike and requesting that the tribunal dismiss the case.
In its affidavits, deposed to by Damilola Olatunji, MultiChoice explained that to mitigate the impact of the weakening exchange rate in Nigeria, it was constrained to increase its subscription prices, though it did so to the least affordable extent possible.
The company insisted that it duly notified its customers and regulatory authorities before the increment was effected.
It was stated that the defendant had already filed a notice of appeal dated June 7, 2024, and an application for a stay of execution of the tribunal’s orders made on June 7, 2024, along with a request for all further proceedings before the tribunal to be stayed pending the determination of the appeal.
Onifade urged the court to determine his case in the interest of justice.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Onigbanjo asked the tribunal to adjourn the matter until the Court of Appeal decided on his applications.
He explained that the law dictates that when a tribunal is aware that an application is before the Court of Appeal, it must allow the Court of Appeal to decide.
On his part, Onifade said the issue of indefinite adjournment had been decided by the tribunal and could not be reopened by MultiChoice.
He said the stay of proceedings in his case must first be filed in the court where the decision was granted.
“It is only upon the refusal of that stay that the applicant can approach a higher court,” Onifade added.
“Even where an applicant approaches a higher court, that higher court must make a positive pronouncement before the proceedings of a lower court can be stayed.”
I.O. Alaba, counsel to the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), asked the tribunal to exercise its wisdom and discretion based on the arguments of both parties.
Ruling on the applications, Okosu said while MultiChoice has the right to appeal, “proper procedures must be followed by MultiChoice”.
He said MultiChoice’s legal team had not shown the special circumstances that restrained it from seeking the tribunal’s leave to suspend its proceedings.
“Whereas we agree that MultiChoice has the right to appeal on a matter before this tribunal, the proper procedures must be followed,” Okosu said.
“We have reviewed the positions of Order 6, Rule 4 of the court of appeal rules, and did not see or find any circumstances that prevented MultiChoice from filing a stay of proceedings and execution before this tribunal.
“In the circumstances, this tribunal has nothing to stay and will therefore proceed to hear and determine this matter.”
Okosu subsequently moved to adjourn the matter till November after the court’s vacation.
He said he could not disobey the tribunal’s own rule on vacation.
It was at this point that Onifade stated that he no longer intended to proceed with the matter, insisting that MultiChoice would leverage the vacation to argue its appeal at the Court of Appeal and frustrate his case.
The tribunal subsequently struck it out.
“The oral application of the claimant to withdraw this suit is hereby granted. No cost is awarded,” the tribunal ruled.
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Mohammed Idris, minister of information, has reacted to the closure of Badeggi FM radio station in Niger state.
Mohammed Idris, minister of information,
On Friday, Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, ordered the commissioner of police to seal off Badeggi FM radio station over alleged incitement of violence.
A statement by Bologi Ibrahim, chief press secretary to the Niger governor, said the “daily activities of the radio station have been unethical”.
“Governor Bago also accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against the government and directed that the license of the radio station be revoked,” the statement reads in part.
Reacting in a statement at the weekend, Rabiu Ibrahim, special assistant (media) to Idris, said the ministry has noted concerns raised by stakeholders in the media industry over the governor’s directive.
Idris said the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the legal authority to suspend or revoke broadcast licences.
“While acknowledging the concerns raised, the Ministry notes that the suspension of broadcasting licenses falls within the purview of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as stipulated by law,” he said.
“In light of this, the Ministry welcomes the decision of the Niger State Government to formally report the perceived “unethical behavior” of Badegi FM to the NBC for resolution.
“The Minister appeals to all parties to remain calm, assuring that the NBC has the necessary mechanisms to resolve the issue in a fair and impartial manner.”
According to the information posted on its website, Badeggi Radio 90.1 FM, Minna, is a private radio station established in 2020 by Shuaibu Badeggi.
Samuel Nartey George, minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Government of Ghana, has accused MultiChoice Ghana of showing disregard for Ghanaians by refusing to reduce its DStv subscription fees despite favourable economic indicators.
In a social media post on Sunday, August 3, the minister said the company’s latest statement vindicates his long-held view that it does not take Ghanaians seriously.
“I have read the release by DStv Ghana and taken full consideration that they vindicate my earlier position that they simply do not take the Ghanaian people serious enough,” he wrote.
The minister had earlier given MultiChoice Ghana a seven-day ultimatum, ending August 7, to review its bouquet prices downward or face the suspension of its operating licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
He cited the cedi’s appreciation, dropping inflation, and reduced fuel prices as justification for the directive.
But MultiChoice, in a statement dated August 3 and signed by its Alex Okyere, managing director, said while it acknowledges the recent economic gains, it finds the demand to reduce prices untenable.
“While we appreciate the recent appreciation of the Cedi (which we have never referred to as a ‘fluke’), it is not tenable to reduce the DStv subscription fees in the manner proposed by the Minister,” the statement said.
The company said it had engaged the Ministry and the NCA in good faith and remained committed to resolving the matter through constructive dialogue for the interest of its stakeholders and staff.
Sam George, however, dismissed these claims, noting that the company responded differently when it was faced with similar pressure in Nigeria.
“The same group operating in Nigeria reversed price increases when the Nigerian authorities sued them. The Nigerian House of Representatives took the matter up and ordered a suspension of the increases. They complied,” he said.
He also revealed details of an alternative proposal by the company, which he rejected.
According to him, MultiChoice had suggested maintaining the current prices while halting the transfer of revenue to their headquarters.
“In all honesty, that offer lacks any logic in my estimation. The essence of my action is to see Ghanaians pay a fair price for the services offered. How does this proposal solve the real issue?” he asked.
I have read the release by DStv Ghana and taken full consideration that they vindicate my earlier position that they simply do not take the Ghanaian people serious enough.
The same Group operating in Nigeria reversed price increases in Nigeria when the Nigerian authorities sued them.
The Nigerian House of Representatives took the matter up and ordered a suspension of the increases. They complied.
This year, in April, at a time the Ghanaian cedi had seen a ~10% appreciation against all major currencies, inflation had dropped by over 5% and fuel prices had also dropped, DStv announced and implemented a 15% increase.
I believe in the interest of transparency, I make public the alternate proposal that DStv offered to me that I flatly rejected.
They proposed that I allow them maintain the collection of the exorbitant bouquet prices as they stand but order them not to send the revenue to their headquarters.
In all honesty, that offer lacks any logic in my estimation. The essence of my action is to see Ghanaians pay a fair price for the services offered. How does this proposal solve the real issue?
For far too long, corporations have fleeced the Ghanaian people.
There has been a RESET and it demands a new style of public service that is fiercely protective of the Ghanaian people.
I remain empathetic to the Ghanaian staff of DStv but I believe that they should stand with the rest of us as we demand what is right for us.
I remain open to “constructive engagements” that are centred on PRICE REDUCTION. Anything else is tangential and of no consequence.
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