Subscriber wins N5m in landmark consumer rights case against Multichoice Nigeria

A Lagos State High Court has directed Multichoice Nigeria Limited to pay N5 million in general damages to a subscriber for the wrongful and wilful disconnection of his cable TV subscription.

In a judgment delivered on September 30, 2025, Justice Razak Olukolu ruled that the company acted wrongfully by disrupting the claimant’s active DStv subscription despite proof of payment.

The case, LD/ADR/2297/2019, was filed in 2019 by Ben Onuora, the Obi of Okwudor in Imo State, who initially sought N20 million in damages for the inconvenience and emotional distress caused to him and his family.

Relying on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 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, the court not only awarded N5 million in damages but also ordered Multichoice to immediately reconnect and restore the claimant’s subscription, covering the entire period of wrongful disconnection.

Additionally, interest on the judgment sum was set at 10 percent per annum until full payment is made. The court, however, denied the claimant’s request for legal costs.

FCCPC Commends Court Ruling

Reacting to the judgment, Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), praised the court for upholding consumer rights.

The statement, signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, also referenced a similar ruling by a high court in Enugu State.

In that case, the court declared the “no refund” policy of Peace Mass Transit illegal, ordering the company to pay N500,000 in damages to a passenger who had been denied a refund for a delayed trip.

According to FCCPC, these judgments underscore the strength of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which empowers consumers to seek redress and mandates service providers to meet lawful standards.

Between March and August 2025, the commission facilitated recoveries of over N10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors, highlighting the growing effectiveness of Nigeria’s consumer protection system.

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Bello urged consumers to report unfair practices through the FCCPC complaint portal, email, or any of its offices nationwide, stressing that judicial enforcement complements the commission’s regulatory efforts and reinforces the message that violations of consumer rights attract real consequences.

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