Nigeria’s competition commission is suing the local unit of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Africa’s biggest pay television company, and its chief executive, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives, the watchdog said on Wednesday, 5 March.
A MultiChoice logo is displayed outside the company’s building in Cape Town, South Africa, 2 February 2024. Reuters/Esa Alexander/File Photo
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) asked MultiChoice Nigeria last month to maintain its pricing structure for its pay-TV business DSTV and GOtv pending the conclusion of a review of its proposed price hike.
Despite the directive, the company proceeded with its price increase on 1 March 2025, in clear defiance of the commission’s directive, the FCCPC said.
“Following this blatant disregard for regulatory oversight, the FCCPC has filed charges against MultiChoice Nigeria and John Ugbe at the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, on three counts of offences … for willfully obstructing the commission’s inquiry by implementing a price hike contrary to directives,” the competition agency said in a post on X.
Violations: FCCPC Files Charges Against MultiChoice
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has formally instituted legal proceedings against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, for violating regulatory directives,… pic.twitter.com/tOjhfSJEuo
— FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) March 5, 2025
MultiChoice Nigeria could not be reached immediately for comment.
MultiChoice Group last year reached a settlement with Nigerian tax authorities for its local subsidiary and agreed to pay a total tax amount of about $37.3m.
