A Lagos State High Court has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to pay ₦5 million in damages to a subscriber, Ben Onuora, for unlawfully disconnecting his DStv service despite proof of payment.
The judgment, delivered on September 30, 2025, by Justice Razak Olukolu in suit No. LD/ADR/2297/2019, found that MultiChoice acted wrongfully and caused emotional distress and inconvenience to Onuora and his family through repeated service disruptions.
Onuora, the Obi of Okwudor in Imo State, filed the suit in 2019, demanding ₦20 million in general damages over what he described as the company’s “persistent and willful interference” with his paid television service.
Citing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, the Abuse of Dominance Regulations 2022, and Section 13 of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law 2015, Justice Olukolu ruled in favour of the claimant.
The court ordered MultiChoice to restore Onuora’s DStv service, extend his subscription to cover the period lost due to wrongful disconnection, and pay the ₦5 million compensation with 10 percent annual interest until fully settled.
Reacting to the verdict, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) hailed the ruling as a significant victory for Nigerian consumers.
In a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission said the decision reinforces public confidence in consumer protection laws and underscores the obligation of service providers to deliver fair and lawful services.
The FCCPC also referenced a similar judgment in Enugu State, where a High Court declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy illegal and ordered the company to pay ₦500,000 in damages to a passenger, Patrick Chukwuma, for refusing to refund his ₦500 fare after a delay.
According to FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, both rulings highlight the growing strength of Nigeria’s consumer protection system. He disclosed that between March and August 2025, the Commission recovered over ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors.
Bello urged Nigerians to continue reporting unfair business practices through the FCCPC complaint channels, stressing that consistent court rulings like these “send a clear message that violations of consumer rights attract real consequences.”
