The impending arraignment comes just weeks after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed MultiChoice Nigeria Limited’s suit on May 8, 2025, which sought to uphold its DStv and GOtv price increases in Nigeria.
Details of the FCCPC Charges
According to the charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, filed by the FCCPC legal team led by Nsitem Chizenum Esq., MultiChoice Nigeria Limited is accused of failing, without sufficient cause, to appear before the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on March 6, 2025. This alleged failure was in non-compliance with a lawful summons issued on February 25, 2025. The Commission has described this as an alleged offense against the FCCPC Act.
Furthermore, the charge sheet names John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other individuals as defendants. The Commission alleges that "being Directors of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, caused the aforesaid MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents which the Company was required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons issued and dated 25 February, 2025, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018.”
The CEO and the other Pay TV directors are further accused of causing MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to impede the FCCPC's investigation by refusing to produce requested documents.
Court Proceedings and Adjournment
During the resumed court session on Tuesday, the FCCPC lawyer informed Justice James Omotosho that, apart from MultiChoice, the other defendants had not yet been personally served with the charge. In light of this, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 7, 2025, for the arraignment to proceed.
Background to the Legal Battle
This legal confrontation has its roots in MultiChoice's announcement of price increases for its DStv and GOtv services. The FCCPC, expressing concerns over frequent price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV industry, directed MultiChoice's Chief Executive Officer to attend an investigative hearing on February 27, 2025. The Commission had warned that a failure to justify the price increases or adhere to fair market principles could lead to regulatory sanctions.
In response, MultiChoice's legal team, led by Onigbanjo, filed a suit seeking an injunction to prevent the FCCPC and its officers from prosecuting the company based on a letter dated March 3, 2025, citing a lack of fair hearing. However, Justice James Omotosho dismissed MultiChoice's suit, ruling it an "abuse of court process." Prior to this dismissal, Justice Omotosho had issued an interim order restraining the FCCPC from taking "any administrative steps" against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited following its price increase announcement.
The impending arraignment signals a significant step in the FCCPC's efforts to ensure consumer protection and fair competition within Nigeria's pay-TV sector.