A Lagos State High Court has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to pay ₦5 million in damages to a subscriber, Ben Onuora, for the wrongful disconnection of 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 the company acted unlawfully and caused the claimant and his family emotional distress and inconvenience through repeated service disruption.
Onuora, who is the Obi of Okwudor in Imo State, filed the case in 2019, seeking ₦20 million in general damages for what he described as MultiChoice’s “persistent and willful” interference with his paid television service.
Citing provisions of 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, the court ruled in favour of the claimant.
Justice Olukolu ordered the company to restore the claimant’s DStv service and extend his subscription period to cover the time lost due to the disconnection. He also directed that the ₦5 million judgment sum should attract 10 percent annual interest until full payment is made.
Reacting to the verdict, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) commended the ruling, describing it as a major win for Nigerian consumers.
In a statement signed by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, the agency said the judgment strengthens public confidence in consumer protection laws and shows that “service providers must meet lawful standards of fair service delivery.”
The FCCPC also highlighted a similar case in Enugu State, where a High Court declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy illegal, ordering the company to compensate a passenger, Patrick Chukwuma, with ₦500,000 after refusing to refund his ₦500 fare following a delay.
According to FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, both judgments show the growing impact of Nigeria’s consumer protection system. He revealed that between March and August 2025, the commission facilitated the recovery of over ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors.
Bello encouraged citizens to continue reporting unfair business practices through the FCCPC complaint portal, email, or offices nationwide, adding that consistent court rulings like these “reinforce the message that violations of consumer rights attract real consequences.”
Ademide Adebayo
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