Steve Aya
A suit challenging the recent price hike by DSTV and GOTV, has been dismissed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal sitting in Abuja. The dismissed suit was filed against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, the operator of satellite televisions – the DSTV and GOTV by Mr Festus Onifade, on behalf of himself and the coalition of Nigerian consumers
The three-member panel tribunal headed by Mr Thomas Okosun, in its judgement, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
In the suit, MultiChoice was the 1st Respondent, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was cited as the 2nd Respondent.
The Claimants approached the tribunal just after MultiChoice announced its plan to increase subscription tariffs on all its products, from April 1.
In his amended claim on June 20, Onifade asked the tribunal to issue an order, directing and mandating the cable service provider to adopt a pay-as-you-view model of charging for its products and services in Nigeria. He also demanded damages be awarded against the company, to the tune of N10 million.
It was gathered that the tribunal initially granted an ex-parte motion that directed the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, but the company allegedly proceeded with the price increase on DSTV and GOTV subscriptions.
MultiChoice’s Lawyer, Mr Jamiu Agoro, challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the case. He urged the tribunal to set aside its interlocutory order, arguing that the Claimants lacked the locus standi to institute the action.
The tribunal, however, dismissed the matter for want of merit, despite affirming its jurisdiction to hear the case.
The tribunal noted that “Only the Presiºdent has the powers to regulate or fix prices of goods and services, under stipulated circumstances which do not apply in this instance.”
It also posited that the Claimants could not prove how they suffered psychological trauma, hardship, or how their rights were trampled upon by the said hike.
