A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, operators of the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) from implementing its new rates and tariffs.
The restraining order was given by Justice C.J. Aneke in the class action suit with number FHC/L/CS/404/2015 filed by two Lagos-based legal practitioners, Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji.
Justice Aneke ruled: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect to or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“That an order is hereby granted certifying the plaintiffs’ claim as a class action for themselves as individual subscribers, other corporate subscribers, distributors and retailers of the 1st defendants’ services.
“That an order is hereby granted restraining any other person whether individual or corporate from instituting any other action as may be related to the action against the defendant to prevent multiplicity of lawsuits pursuant to the appointment of the plaintiffs in the class action but may instead opt in or out of this action.”
The lawyers urged the court to order the second defendant, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to also implement a Pay Per View system where subscribers choose the programmes they want and pay as they watch.
Earlier MultiChoice had announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria to take effect from April 1.
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