FCCPC Loses As Court Backs MultiChoice Subscription Price Hikes
A Federal High Court in Abuja has held that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has no legal powers to fix or suspend subscription prices of MultiChoice Nigeria, operators of DStv and GOtv.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the judgement, delivered by Justice James Omotoso, struck out a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria challenging the FCCPC’s interference in the recent hike in subscription fees — a move that had sparked outrage among subscribers and drawn the attention of the consumer watchdog.
MultiChoice, on 1st March, 2025, effected an upward review of all its packages, increasing rates by as much as 25 percent.
The company cited rising inflation and operational costs as reasons for the second increase in less than a year.
The FCCPC, dissatisfied with the development, had issued a regulatory query and taken the matter to the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking a halt to the new pricing regime.
However, Justice Omotoso ruled that the commission acted outside the bounds of its authority, noting that the power to regulate prices lies solely with the President and must be explicitly delegated through a gazetted instrument — which, in this case, did not exist.
“The FCCPC has investigative powers but cannot fix or suspend prices without presidential delegation. Any such action taken without that backing is null and void,” the judge ruled.
He further stated that the lawsuit filed by MultiChoice amounted to an abuse of court process since a similar matter was already pending before another court.
Nevertheless, the judge stressed that Nigeria operates a free market system where service providers retain the liberty to set their prices — and consumers reserve the right to accept or reject them.
“The use of services like those provided by the plaintiff is discretionary and not essential. Nigeria can do without it,” he said pointedly.
Justice Omotoso also dismissed the FCCPC’s claim that MultiChoice was exploiting a dominant market position, describing the argument as weak and unsubstantiated.
He warned that undue interference in market pricing by regulatory bodies could drive away investors and hurt the country’s economic prospects.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
