The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has issued a restraining order against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from raising their rates and the cost of their products and services, which were scheduled to take effect on May 1.
The three-member panel, presided over by Saratu Shafii, issued the interim decision in response to an ex parte request filed by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant Festus Onifade.
In a finding, the tribunal restrained Multi-Choice from implementing an upcoming price rise schedule set to take effect on May 1, pending the hearing and conclusion 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.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onifade, in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, had dragged Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) before the tribunal.
In the suit filed on April 29, Onifade, also a legal practitioner, sought two orders.
These include, “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.”
Other members of the tribunal include Thomas Okosun and Dr. Umar Duhu.
NAN reports that the company hiked the prices of all its packages on April 1, 2022.
