The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed against MultiChoice Nigeria, the operator of DStv and GOtv, challenging the recent tariff hikes implemented by the pay-TV service provider.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, the tribunal held that the case lacked merit and fell outside its jurisdiction. The claimant, a legal practitioner and DStv subscriber, had argued that MultiChoice’s decision to increase subscription fees was arbitrary and amounted to a violation of consumer rights.
However, the three-member panel of the tribunal, led by Justice Thomas Okosu, ruled that price regulation does not fall under the jurisdiction of the CCPT unless there is evidence of unfair trade practices or abuse of dominance, which the claimant failed to establish.
The tribunal emphasized that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) remain the appropriate regulatory bodies with powers to address such tariff matters in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
The ruling marks the second time in recent years that legal efforts to reverse MultiChoice’s pricing adjustments have failed. The company maintains that its pricing structure reflects operational realities, including currency devaluation, increased content costs, and rising inflation.
This decision reinforces the legal precedent that service pricing decisions by private operators—absent any proven consumer protection breaches—remain outside the purview of judicial intervention.