The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has withdrawn its case against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, and several directors, ending months of legal dispute over alleged obstruction of an ongoing investigation.
The FCCPC’s legal team, led by Nsitem Chizenum, announced the withdrawal of the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025 during Tuesday’s court session in Abuja. The decision followed an out-of-court settlement between both parties.
“Parties have settled, and we agree to withdraw this suit,” said FCCPC counsel Daniel Amadi, addressing Justice James Omotosho. MultiChoice’s lawyer, Rolake Akingbola, raised no objection, prompting the court to formally strike out the charge.
The Commission had earlier accused MultiChoice and its executives — including directors Gozie Onumonu and Adewunmi Ogunsanya — of failing to comply with a lawful summons issued on February 25, 2025, requiring their appearance before the Commission on March 6, 2025. The alleged non-compliance was said to contravene Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018, which prohibits obstruction of lawful investigations.
The withdrawn charge followed a separate ruling in May 2025, in which the Federal High Court dismissed MultiChoice’s attempt to uphold recent DStv and GOtv subscription price increases, describing the suit as an abuse of court process.
The FCCPC had earlier directed MultiChoice’s management to appear before it over frequent price hikes and alleged abuse of market dominance in the pay-TV industry. The regulator warned that non-compliance with fair market principles could attract sanctions.
Tuesday’s withdrawal now signals an end to the Commission’s criminal proceedings against the company, though regulatory oversight of the pay-TV sector is expected to continue under Nigeria’s competition laws.
