The three-member tribunal, presided over by
Thomas Okosun, gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by Festus
Onifade, a legal practitioner, on behalf of himself and the Coalition of
Nigeria Consumers.
Other members of the tribunal include Sola
Salako Ajulo and Ibrahim EL-Yakubu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/1/2022, Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited and
Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) are 1st and 2nd
respondents respectively.
The motion ex-parte filed by the applicants
on March 29 was brought pursuant to Section 39 (1) & (2) of FCCPC Act 2018;
Order 26, Rule 5 (2), (3) & 26 Rule 6 (1) & (2) Federal High Court
(Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and Section 47(a), (b), (c),(d), of Federal
Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
The applicants had prayed for “an order of
interim injunction restraining the 1st defendants/respondents, either by
itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies, howsoever described, from
carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and cost of its products and
services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022, until the hearing and
determination of the motion on notice already filed before this tribunal.
“An order of the Honourable Tribunal mandating
the 1st defendant/respondents to maintain status quo pending the hearing and
determination of the motion on notice.
“And for such further order or other orders
as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
In the ruling, the tribunal ordered
Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited to stop the planned hike in tariffs and cost of
its products and services pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
“The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby
restrained, either by itself, agents, representatives, officers or privies,
howsoever described, from carrying out the impending increase in tariffs and
cost of its products and services intended to take effect from 1st April, 2022
until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed
before this Honourable Tribunal.
“The 1st defendant/respondent is hereby
mandated to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the
motion on notice,” the tribunal ruled.
The matter was adjourned until April 11 for
the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“All parties in this suit are to appear
before this Honourable Tribunal on the 11th day of April, 2022,” it ruled.