Two Nigerian companies, Multichoice Nigeria Limited and Peace Mass Transit, have been ordered by courts in Lagos and Enugu to pay damages for breaching consumer rights, in rulings hailed by regulators as victories for consumer protection.
In Lagos, the High Court presided over by Justice R. O. Olukolu awarded ₦5 million in damages against Multichoice for unlawfully disconnecting a paid DStv subscription belonging to Mr. Ben Onuora.
The court held that the disruption caused undue hardship to the subscriber and his family, and ordered the company to reconnect the service and extend the subscription to cover the lost period.
Read Also: NDPC Slaps Multichoice with ₦766M Fine Over Privacy Breaches and Unlawful Data Transfers
The judgment cited Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
In a separate ruling, the Enugu High Court under Justice C. O. Ajah declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy illegal.
The company was ordered to pay ₦500,000 in damages to Mr. Tochukwu Odo, a passenger whose fare was withheld after an uncompleted trip.
The court ruled that service providers must refund customers when services are not rendered, referencing Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA.
Reacting to the judgments, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) described them as landmark decisions that reinforce Nigeria’s consumer protection framework.
In a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the rulings demonstrate the effectiveness of judicial enforcement under the FCCPA.
Read Also: FCCPC to Arraign MultiChoice Nigeria CEO John Ugbe for Alleged Obstruction
“These outcomes strengthen consumer confidence and marketplace accountability,” Bello said, commending the judiciary and encouraging consumers to continue seeking redress through lawful channels.
Between March and August 2025, the FCCPC facilitated recoveries exceeding ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors, according to the Commission.
The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to promoting fair markets and protecting consumer rights nationwide.
