A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja, on Monday, restrained Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DStv and GOtv from increasing their tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on May 1.
The three-member tribunal, presided over by Saratu Shafii, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.
The tribunal, in a ruling, restrained Multi-Choice from going ahead with impending price increase schedule to take effect from May 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
“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,” Shafii declared.
She, therefore, directed all parties in the suit to appear before the tribunal on May 7 at 10 am for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Recall that Multichoice Nigeria in an email to customers on Wednesday announced an increase in the cost of subscriptions for its DStv and GOtv packages beginning from May 1.
According to the pay TV firm, customers on the DStv premium bouquet will pay N37,000 as against the current N29,500, and those on Compact+ would pay N25,000 from N19,800.
Customers of the Compact bouquet will pay N15,700, up from N12,500.
To subscribe to Confam, Yanga, and Padi packages, customers will pay N9,300, N5,100, and N3,600 from N7,400, N4,200, and N2,950 respectively.
