A Nigerian subscriber, Festus Onifade, has withdrawn his lawsuit against MultiChoice Nigeria over a recent rate hike. The case ended a months-long legal dispute at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Onifade filed his notice of discontinuance on April 7, 2025. The legal papers show he dropped his claims against MultiChoice and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
MultiChoice announced a subscription rate increase on February 24, 2025. The company raised its Compact Plus package from ₦25,500 to ₦30,000 per month. MultiChoice CEO John Ugbe attributed the hike to increased operational costs and economic challenges. The tariff change took effect on March 1, 2025.
Onifade argued that the eight-day notice period violated Section 128 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. He claimed that MultiChoice’s short notice failed to give consumers enough time to prepare. In his affidavit, Onifade described the notice as unjust and a breach of consumer rights. MultiChoice’s dominant position in broadcasting Premier League and European football further aggravated his claims.
The dispute sparked protests and intense debate on consumer rights. Several institutions reported similar cases. MultiChoice, a unit of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, remains the dominant pay-TV provider in Nigeria. Despite pressure from consumers, the tariff hike proceeded as planned.
Onifade previously demanded a halt to the rate increase and called on the FCCPC to investigate. He also referenced a pending appeal from a 2022 case on an earlier rate hike. His legal team, including Sa’adah Abdulmalik and Ahmad Usman Ahmad, signed the discontinuance notice. They served the document to MultiChoice in Maitama and the FCCPC in Asokoro.
No public comment emerged from either party. Onifade’s withdrawal of the case marks the end of the dispute, leaving many consumers watching closely how MultiChoice manages its pricing in Nigeria. MultiChoice and Onifade continue to figure prominently in ongoing discussions about tariff adjustments and consumer protection in the Nigerian market.
