Nigeria forbids DStv price rise, for now
April 9, 2015
By Chris Forrester
A Nigerian Federal High Court has forbidden pay-TV operator DStv from implementing new prices. The court issued an interim restraining order following a Class Action movement by local citizens.
In March DStv hiked its prices by an average 20 per cent across the board – effective April 1st – and this prompted the action, with lawyers for the petitioners arguing over the arbitrary nature of the price rise. Multichoice/DStv argued that the rise was consistent with inflation.
There will be a full hearing before the court on April 16th, but meanwhile in the order Justice C J 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.”