The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for disregarding regulatory directives and obstructing an ongoing investigation.
In a statement on Wednesday, March 3, signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, the commission said MultiChoice defied an order to suspend its planned price increase for DStv and GOtv services pending an inquiry but went ahead with the hike on March 1, 2025.
“MultiChoice Nigeria had been expressly directed by the FCCPC on February 27, 2025, to maintain its current pricing structure for DStv and GOtv pending the conclusion of an examination of its proposed price hike,” the statement read.
“However, despite this directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on March 1, 2025, in clear defiance of the Commission’s directive.”
READ ALSO: FCCPC Orders MultiChoice to Halt Price Hike Amid Investigation
The FCCPC said it had instituted legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos on three counts of offences under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
These include “wilfully obstructing the Commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives (Section 33(4)), impeding the ongoing investigation by ignoring instructions to suspend the hike (Section 110), and attempting to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without objection (Section 159(2), punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b)).”
The commission described the company’s actions as “a deliberate and calculated attempt to undermine regulatory authority, disrupt market fairness, and deny Nigerian consumers the protection afforded under the law.”
It added that further enforcement measures, including sanctions and penalties, were being considered to ensure compliance and accountability.
“The FCCPC is committed to protecting Nigerian consumers from exploitative business practices and ensuring that dominant players in any sector adhere to fair market principles and legal compliance,” the statement concluded.