The Director-General, Consumer Protection Council [CPC], Mr Babatunde Irukera, has said the agency is still in court over a suit it filed against the hike in subscription rate by MultiChoice Nigeria’s DSTV.
WuzupNaija recalls that MultiChoice had in July 2018 attempted to increase the subscription rate for the DSTV Premium package from N14,700 to N15,800 (about 7.5 per cent); Compact Plus from N9,900 to N10,650; Compact bouquet from N6,300 to N6,800; Family from N3,800 to N4,000, and Access from N1,900 to N2,000. The new rates took effect from August 1.
On August 20, 2018, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, in the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria V MultiChoice Nigeria Limited: Case No. FHC/ABJ/CS/894, entered an order restraining MultiChoice by itself, agents, or representatives from continuing any increased subscription rate or prices, pending the determination of an application before the court.
But, the last seems to have been seen and heard on the suit as MultiChoice continues to bill consumers using the new rates.
However, speaking in a ThePunch interview, Irukera said the CPC’s position remains consistent.
He said,
We are in court and the process is going on. The council’s position remains consistent, which is that the court has given an order and compliance with the honourable court is important. Also, it is the court that has the tool to enforce compliance and we will make sure they do. Some of the things that have happened are appeals against the decision of the lower court.
However, we are arguing that they should not be heard at the appellate level until they comply with the order of the lower court.
The CPC is exploring ways of preserving the questions of law before the court for ultimate determination and compliance. But at the same time, we are seeking to enforce some of the key consumer protection issues in the cable television industry. We have got some traction on that. There seems to be more appetite on the side of DSTV to, as much as possible, comply now with regulatory oversight to the exclusion of what has been presented to the court. Those possibilities are ongoing.
