A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja issued an interim order on Monday, restraining Multi-Choice Nigeria Limited from implementing its planned tariff increase and cost adjustments slated to commence on May 1.
Presided over by Saratu Shafii, the three-member tribunal granted the interim order following an ex-parte motion presented by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.
The tribunal’s ruling enjoined Multi-Choice from proceeding with the impending price increase scheduled for May 1 until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed before it.
“The 1st defendant is hereby restrained from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” declared Shafii.
All parties involved in the suit were directed to appear before the tribunal on May 7 at 10 a.m. for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The suit, marked CCPT/OP/2/2024, was initiated by Onifade against Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Onifade, a legal practitioner, sought two orders in the suit filed on April 29. These included an interim injunction restraining Multi-Choice from implementing the impending price increase pending the determination of the motion on notice, and an order preventing the company from taking any action that may adversely affect the rights of consumers.
The tribunal’s decision comes after Multi-Choice had previously increased prices across all its packages on April 1, 2022.
