High Court in Abuja has ordered that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission refrain from taking legal action against MultiChoice Nigeria.

High Court in Abuja has ordered that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) refrain from taking legal action against MultiChoice Nigeria in response to the pay-TV company's 21% increase in DStv and GOtv subscription prices.

Justice James Omotosho issued the interim decision this week in response to MultiChoice's ex parte motion, which challenged the FCCPC's ability to regulate rates or halt the hike.

The FCCPC had already summoned MultiChoice to an investigative hearing on the pricing hike on February 27, 2025, and ordered the firm to maintain its current subscription rates until the probe.

However, MultiChoice went ahead with the raise, citing Nigeria's free-market economy and claiming that the FCCPC has the legal authority to regulate rates or demand prior consent for such changes.

According to an affidavit filed by Gozie Onumonu, head of regulatory affairs and government relations at MultiChoice, the company's subscription rates in Nigeria are the lowest when compared to other markets, with the premium package costing $29.81 in Nigeria and $85.11 in Kenya.

Justice Omotosho's order prohibits the FCCPC from taking any disciplinary action against MultiChoice until the case is heard in court. The hearing has been set for March 27, 2025.

The FCCPC had expressed concerns about fairness, market misuse, and anti-competitive behaviours, but the court's judgement questions the commission's ability to pursue consumer protection in this case.