By John Ofem, JKNewsMedia Intern
IN LAGOS, a High Court has ordered Multichoice Nigeria Limited to pay N5 million in general damages to a DStv subscriber over what the court described as the wrongful and willful disconnection of an active television subscription.
The judgment, delivered on 30 September 2025 by Justice Razak Olukolu, found that the company had acted unlawfully by disrupting the claimant’s cable television service despite clear proof of payment.
The civil action, marked LD/ADR/2297/2019, was instituted by Ben Onuora, the Obi of Okwudor in Imo State, in 2019.
He sought ₦20 million in general damages from the pay-TV provider for persistent disruptions to his subscription.
Justice Olukolu held that the defendant’s conduct breached consumer protection laws and caused “undue inconvenience and emotional distress” to the claimant and his family.
The ruling relied on key statutory provisions, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (Abuse of Dominance) Regulations 2022, and Section 13 of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2015.
Delivering judgment, the court declared that the claimant had proven his case and was entitled to compensation. Consequently, the court awarded ₦5 million in damages but declined to grant his request for the defendant to bear the cost of the suit.
The court further ordered Multichoice Nigeria “to immediately reconnect and restore the claimant’s cable television subscription and to extend the subscription to cover the entire period of the wrongful disconnection.”
Additionally, interest was imposed on the judgment sum at a rate of 10 per cent per annum until full payment is made.
Reacting to the judgment in a statement issued on Monday, Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), commended the ruling as an affirmation of consumer rights protection under Nigerian law.
The statement, signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, also referenced a related case from Enugu State where a High Court similarly upheld consumer protection principles against a transport company’s unfair practice.
That separate case, marked E/514/2021, involved a passenger, Patrick Chukwuma, who filed a suit against Peace Mass Transit, a commercial transport service provider.
The plaintiff had purchased a N500 ticket from the company’s Obollor-Afor branch for a journey to Enugu on 10 February 2021.
After hours of delay resulting from an insufficient number of passengers, the claimant returned to the ticketing office to request a refund. He alleged that company staff denied the request, citing a “no refund after payment” policy.
In a April 2022 judgment, Justice C.O. Ajah declared the company’s “no refund” policy illegal, null and void, referencing sections 120, 104, and 129(1)(a) and (b)(iii) of the FCCPA 2018, which prohibits unfair commercial practices and empowers consumers to demand redress.
The court consequently ordered Peace Mass Transit to pay N500,000 as damages to the plaintiff for the unlawful denial of a refund.
The FCCPC noted that the two judgments, the Lagos case against Multichoice Nigeria and the Enugu case against Peace Mass Transit, reinforce the legal authority of the FCCPA and underscore the judiciary’s growing role in protecting consumer rights across Nigeria.
“These judgments demonstrate the strength of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, which empowers consumers to seek redress and requires service providers to meet lawful standards of fair service delivery,” the Commission stated.
The FCCPC also disclosed that it had facilitated recoveries of over N10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors between March and August 2025, describing it as a strong indicator of Nigeria’s advancing consumer protection framework.
According to the Commission, the judicial enforcement of consumer rights serves as a vital complement to its regulatory oversight and sends a clear warning to businesses that violations of consumer rights carry significant legal consequences.
“The consistent enforcement by courts across the country complements the Commission’s regulatory work and reinforces the message that consumer-rights violations attract real consequences,” Bello said in the statement.
He encouraged Nigerians to continue lodging complaints through the Commission’s official channels, including its complaint portal, email address, and physical offices nationwide, assuring that every report would receive due attention under the law.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness, accountability, and lawful conduct in business transactions across all economic sectors, emphasising that Nigeria’s consumer protection ecosystem is increasingly robust and responsive.
Bello reaffirmed that the FCCPC would continue to work closely with the judiciary, state consumer agencies, and civil society organisations to strengthen enforcement, enhance awareness, and promote a culture of corporate responsibility.
He added that the Commission remains committed to sustaining reforms that make market transactions transparent and equitable, in line with the intent of the FCCPA 2018.
The two recent court judgments have been described by the Commission as milestones in consolidating Nigeria’s consumer protection framework and strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
Through these decisions, the courts have reinforced that consumer rights are enforceable by law and that corporate entities must uphold obligations to their customers or face financial and reputational penalties.
The FCCPC’s latest enforcement report shows that consumer awareness and complaints handling have significantly improved across key service sectors, including telecommunications, digital payments, transport, energy, and broadcast services.
Officials added that the Commission would intensify collaboration with industry regulators to ensure that all service providers adhere strictly to Nigeria’s consumer protection laws and provide fair remedies when disputes arise.
The FCCPC concluded that the Multichoice judgment serves as an important precedent affirming the principle that consumers have a right to receive the services they pay for and that service providers cannot act arbitrarily against verified subscribers.
