Court stops DSTV from increasing its subscription fees

A Justice of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, C J Aneke, has granted an order of interim injunction restraining Multichoice from enforcing its planned increase in cost on the different classes of its pay TV.

Multichoice, owners of DSTV and GOtv, has announced a 20 percent increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria which is to take effect from April 1, 2015 stating  the annual increase is in-line with the prevailing inflation.

The Judge asked all parties to maintain the status quo in support of the motion ex parte with an affidavit of urgency sworn to by the plaintiff.

The order reads:

 

''That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the 1^st defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect 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 1^st 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 ''. 

The suit was filed by Adebayo Osasuyi and Oluyinka Oyeniji, DSTV subscribers/customers, at the Federal High Court Ikoyi.  The case was adjoined to the 16^th of April 2015 for further hearing.