Nigerian competition agency sues MultiChoice over price hike
Nigeria's competition commission is suing the local unit of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Africa's biggest pay television company, and its chief executive, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, the watchdog said on Wednesday, 5 March.
A MultiChoice logo is displayed outside the company's building in Cape Town, South Africa, 2 February 2024. Reuters/Esa Alexander/File Photo
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) asked MultiChoice Nigeria last month to maintain its pricing structure for its pay-TV business DSTV and GOtv pending the conclusion of a review of its proposed price hike.
Despite the directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on 1 March 2025, in clear defiance of the commission's directive, the FCCPC said.
"Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences ... for willfully obstructing the commission's inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives," the competition agency said in a post on X.
Violations: FCCPC Files Charges Against MultiChoice
— FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) March 5, 2025
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives,… pic.twitter.com/tOjhfSJEuo
MultiChoice Nigeria could not be reached immediately for comment.
MultiChoice Group last year reached a settlement with Nigerian tax authorities for its local subsidiary and agreed to pay a total tax amount of about $37.3m.
Related
Privacy breach: More details into WhatsApp's $220m fine in Nigeria Ahmore Burger-Smidt 15 Aug 2024 Nigeria fines Meta $220m for violating consumer, data laws Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and and MacDonald Dzirutwe 22 Jul 2024
Source: Reuters
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day.
Go to: https://www.reuters.com/About MacDonald Dzirutwe and Chijioke Ohuocha
Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; editing by Leslie Adler
