FCCPC to arraign MultiChoice CEO, Pay TV directors for allegedly impeding investigation

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is set to arraign MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, its Chief Executive Officer John Ugbe, and several directors of the company for allegedly obstructing an ongoing investigation and failing to comply with official summons regarding its pay-TV services.

According to court documents marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, filed by the FCCPC legal team led by Nsitem Chizenum Esq., the commission is proceeding with charges following the Federal High Court’s dismissal of MultiChoice’s lawsuit on 8 May 2025, which had sought to validate recent price hikes on DStv and GOtv platforms.

The charge sheet lists John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other senior officials as defendants. MultiChoice Nigeria Limited is accused of failing, without lawful justification, to appear before the Commission on 6 March 2025 as directed by a summons dated 25 February 2025.

The FCCPC maintains that this failure constitutes a violation of the FCCPC Act. It further alleges that Ogunsanya, Ugbe, and others, in their capacity as company directors, caused MultiChoice Nigeria to withhold documents requested by the Commission as part of its investigation.

The charge states: “The defendants, on or about 6 March 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, wilfully caused MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents required under a lawful summons dated 25 February 2025, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018.”

The defendants are also accused of impeding the Commission’s investigation by refusing to provide the necessary documents.

During proceedings on Tuesday, FCCPC counsel informed Justice James Omotosho that while the charge had been filed, the individual defendants had not yet been served. Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter to 7 October 2025 for arraignment.

This latest development follows Justice Omotosho’s earlier ruling that dismissed MultiChoice’s lawsuit as an “abuse of court process.” The company had sought to restrain the FCCPC from taking regulatory action over its recent price adjustments.

In February 2025, the Commission had summoned MultiChoice’s CEO to appear for an investigative hearing, expressing concern over repeated price increases and possible abuse of market dominance in the pay-TV sector.

The FCCPC had also cautioned that any inability to justify such hikes or align with competitive market standards could lead to regulatory penalties.

MultiChoice’s legal team, led by Onigbanjo, subsequently filed a suit claiming a lack of fair hearing, referencing a letter issued by the Commission on 3 March 2025. However, the court ruled against the company, dismissing the application and affirming the FCCPC’s authority to proceed with its investigation.