The Federal Government has fined Multichoice Nigeria N766,242,500 for breaking the Nigeria Data Protection Act by violating subscribers’ privacy and unlawfully sending their personal data outside the country.
This was announced on Sunday by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, which said the fine came after an investigation that began in the second quarter of 2024. The probe followed public complaints about how Multichoice was handling personal data.
Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the NDPC, said, “The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. This is a grave affront to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The commission found that Multichoice was collecting and processing personal data from not just its customers, but also people who had no business relationship with the company. It also discovered that personal data of Nigerian users was being transferred abroad without following legal procedures.
According to the NDPC, it had earlier asked the company to correct these problems, but Multichoice’s response was not satisfactory. “For want of cooperation, the commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act,” Bamigboye stated.
The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has now ordered a broader investigation into all data collection outlets operated by Multichoice across the country. He warned that any outlet found breaking the data protection law will face penalties.
The NDPC said Nigeria has the right to protect its data both under local laws and international rules, adding that violations like this can affect national security, rule of law, and the country’s economic strength.
This fine is the latest in a series of troubles facing Multichoice in Nigeria. In February, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission told the company to stop its planned subscription price increase. But Multichoice went ahead with the price hike on March 1, a move the FCCPC called a clear act of disobedience.
Following that, the commission filed criminal charges against Multichoice Nigeria and its CEO, John Ugbe. The charges include obstructing an investigation, ignoring official orders, and giving false information to the authorities.
