The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed MultiChoice Nigeria’s challenge against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) intervention in its recent subscription price increase.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the suit was an abuse of court process as similar cases were pending in Lagos. He also stated that while the FCCPC has investigative powers, it cannot set or suspend prices without explicit authorization from the President.
The judge emphasized Nigeria’s free-market system, where companies like MultiChoice can set prices, and criticized the FCCPC’s directive to suspend the price hike as a violation of the company’s right to a fair hearing. The court also rejected FCCPC’s claim that MultiChoice held a dominant market position.
MultiChoice had raised its prices by up to 25% in March, citing inflation, prompting FCCPC’s opposition. The judge’s ruling aligns with a 2022 tribunal decision affirming MultiChoice’s right to increase prices.
