The Federal Government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has fixed October 7, 2025, for the arraignment of the Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Adewunmi Ogunsanya; and the Managing Director of the company, John Ugbe; over allegations of breaching the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
Justice James Omotosho set the date after Chizenum Nsitem, counsel for the FCCPC, applied for an adjournment due to the absence of the defendants in court.
When the matter was called, none of the defendants appeared in court, citing improper service of court documents, including the hearing notice.
The prosecuting counsel requested an adjournment to ensure proper service, which the judge granted, adjourning the matter until October 7, for the defendants to enter their pleas.
Others to be arraigned alongside the chairman and MD of the company include six senior officers of the pay-TV company, such as the CEO of MultiChoice Africa Holdings, Fhulufhelo Badugela; Chief Financial Officer for Africa, Retiel Tromp; and Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Keabetswe Modimoeng.
Also listed are a director, Adebusola Bello; Fuad Ogunsanya; and Gozie Onumonu, who is the Head of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, alongside the company itself.
The charge contains seven counts against the defendants.
MultiChoice Nigeria Limited is the first defendant, while Ogunsanya, Ugbe, Badugela, Tromp, Modimoeng, Bello, Fuad Ogunsanya, and Onumonu are named as the second to ninth defendants.
In the first count, MultiChoice Nigeria Limited is accused of failing, without sufficient reason, to appear before the FCCPC on March 6, at No. 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, in response to a lawful summons issued on February 25. This is alleged to contravene Section 33(3) of the FCCP Act, 2018.
In the sixth count, Ogunsanya, Ugbe, and others, as directors of the company, are alleged to have on March 6, caused MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to impede an FCCPC investigation by refusing to produce requested documents. This offence is said to contravene Section 110 of the FCCP Act, 2018.
MultiChoice, the operator of DStv and GOtv, recently increased its subscription rates, prompting an FCCPC invitation to explain the rationale behind the price hike.
Justice Omotosho had earlier dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice seeking to prevent the FCCPC from taking administrative action against the company.
In his ruling, the judge held that the suit constituted an abuse of the court process, noting that it was filed after a similar suit on the issue by a lawyer, Festus Onifade, which already named MultiChoice and the FCCPC as parties.
The FCCPC had earlier summoned MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to explain its March 1 price review. The commission directed the company’s CEO to attend an investigative hearing on February 27, raising concerns over frequent price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.
The commission warned that failure to justify the price adjustment or adhere to fair market principles would result in regulatory sanctions.
In response, MultiChoice filed a suit seeking an injunction to restrain the FCCPC from acting on its warnings, as stated in a letter dated March 3.
