The Consumers protection court has issued an order restraining Multichoice Nigeria Limited from implementing the DSTV and GOTv subscription prices hike it announced last week.

The three-member panel of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja, presided over by Saratu Shafii, issued the order on Monday. 

The interim order was sequel to an ex-parte motion filed before the court by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel to the applicant, Festus Onifade.

SaharaReporters had reported that the management of Multichoice Nigeria Limited last week announced a fresh hike in the prices of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages.

The fresh prices hike came barely four months after the previous fee adjustment.

According to an email sent to customers, the new prices on its DSTV and GOtv packages would take effect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

The new prices affect both new subscribers and existing customers renewing their packages.

Giving the reason for the fresh hike, the company said the new price adjustment came as a result of the persistent increase in the cost of production within the country.

The pay television outlet increased the subscription fee for packages on both platforms from about 20 percent to about 26 percent, depending on the package.

For instance, the cost of the DStv Premium Package was increased from the old price of N29,500 to the new price of N37,000. 

The cost of the Compact Plus package was increased from N19,800 to N25,000.

The compact package moved from N12,500 to N15,700; Confam package was increased from N7400 to N9300; Yanga moved from N4,200 to N5,100; Padi that was N2950 is now N3360; HDPVR Access Service - N4000 moved to a new price of N5000; Access fees old price N4000 increased to N5000 and XtraView old price N4000 increased to N5000.

For GOtv package: Supa+ increased from N12,500 to N15,700; Supa old increased from N7,600 to N9,600; Max increased from N5,700 to N7,200; Jolli increased from N3,950 to N4,850; Jinja package increased from N2,700 to N3,300; and Smallie package increased from N1,300 to N1,575.

The new subscription price in the email signed by Chief Executive Officer, Multichoice, John Ugbe, explained that the move would allow the firm to provide more quality content to its subscribers' homes across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onifade filed the motion before the court in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, had dragged MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Onifade in the suit filed on April 29 is seeking “An order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant, whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from 1st May, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

In its ruling, the court restrained MultiChoice from implementing the announced prices increment, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.

The court ruled that “The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.” 

The court directed all parties in the suit to appear before it on May 7 at 10am for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.