Court prohibits MultiChoice from increasing DSTV and GOTV tariffs.

Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited is prohibited from raising its tariffs and product and service prices starting on May 1 by an Abuja-based Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT).

Following an ex-parte motion submitted by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant Festus Onifade, the three-member panel headed by Saratu Shafii issued an interim order on Monday.

In a decision, the tribunal stopped multi-choice from implementing the planned price rise that was supposed to start on May 1 while the move on notice was being heard and decided.

She also gave the tribunal instructions to have a hearing and decide the motion on notice on May 7 at 10 a.m.

The petitioner brought before the tribunal the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and Multi-choice Nigeria Ltd.

In a lawsuit filed on April 29, lawyer Onifade asked for two directives.

These include “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, her privies, or by whatever name called, from going ahead with the impending price increase schedule to take effect on May 1, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

“An order prohibiting the first defendant from acting in any way that could jeopardise the rights of the claimant and other consumers in relation to the lawsuit while the motion is being heard and decided upon.”

The firm raised the cost of every bundle on April 1, 2022.