A human rights lawyer based in Abuja, Festus Onifade, has approached the Court of Appeal seeking an injunction to stop MultiChoice Nigeria from implementing further subscription fee increases until a pending appeal is resolved.
In a motion filed on 4 July 2025, Onifade urged the court to compel the pay-TV provider to maintain the status quo, arguing that continued tariff hikes are unlawful and undermine the authority of the court.
The motion stems from an earlier case (CCPT/OP/1/2022) brought before the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT), in which an interim order was granted restraining MultiChoice from increasing its prices while the legal process was ongoing.
However, Onifade claims the company defied that order by introducing multiple price hikes, including while the current appeal (CA/ABJ/CV/1363/2022) was still pending.
Joined in the suit are the Coalition of Nigerian Consumers and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Onifade is asking the appellate court to issue a restraining order against MultiChoice, direct the FCCPC to ensure compliance, and award ₦20 million in damages for what he described as a violation of consumer rights.
In his affidavit, Onifade warned that MultiChoice’s actions risk making any future court ruling meaningless. “The appellants have continuously altered the subject matter of litigation without the court’s leave,” he said.
He stressed that under Nigerian law, parties are expected to maintain the status quo during the course of an appeal, particularly when the appeal directly concerns the contested action—in this case, the tariff increases.
“The purpose,” he argued, “is to prevent the subject matter from being damaged or rendered unenforceable by the time the court delivers its final judgment.”
He added that granting the motion would not prejudice MultiChoice, but would help safeguard the integrity of the judicial process and protect consumer interests.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the motion.