By Abimbola Ogunnaike
A Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) sitting in Abuja, presided over by Saratu Shafii, on Monday, 29 April, 2024 restrained MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on May 1.
Shafii, who headed the three-member tribunal, gave the interim order following an ex-parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant, Festus Onifade.
The tribunal, in a ruling, restrained Multi-Choice from going ahead with an impending price increase scheduled to take effect from May 1, pending 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,” Shafii declared.
She, therefore, directed all parties in the suit to appear before tribunal on May 7 at 10 a.m. for the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Onifade, in the suit marked: CCPT/OP/2/2024, had dragged Multi-Choice Nigeria Ltd and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) before the tribunal.
In the suit filed on April 29, Onifade, also a legal practitioner, sought two orders.
These are: “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatever name called from going ahead with impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order restraining the 1st defendant 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.”
Other members of the tribunal are: Thomas Okosun and Dr. Umar Duhu.
Recall that the company had, on April 1, 2022, hiked the prices of all its packages.
Source : NAN
