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Tribunal quashes DStv, GOtv price hike case
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) has struck out a subscription price hike case instituted against MultiChoice Nigeria.
A three-member tribunal struck out the suit following a request by the claimant, Festus Onifade, to withdraw his case against MultiChoice.
Onifade who made an oral application for the withdrawal said he no longer intends to proceed with the matter.
He also expressed the view that MultiChoice would leverage the period of the court’s annual vacation to argue its appeal at the Court of Appeal and frustrate his case.
“I am abandoning this matter. I am withdrawing this case,” he said while explaining that he had filed the suit to challenge the alleged oppressive attitude of multinationals toward Nigerian consumers.
Counsel to MultiChoice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo stated that he had no objection to the claimant’s request to withdraw.
Counsel for the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also had no objections.
The tribunal granted Onifade’s Request.
“The oral application of the claimant to withdraw this suit is hereby granted. No cost is awarded,” the tribunal ruled.
On April 29, the tribunal stopped MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs, and subscription rates pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Onifade.
A three-member tribunal had ruled in favour of Onifade by temporarily restraining MultiChoice from implementing the impending price increase scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2024,
But MultiChoice had appealed the decision and filed for a stay of proceedings.
Onigbanjo said MultiChoice had filed a preliminary objection urging the court to decline jurisdiction over the suit filed by Festus Onifade and to strike it out, arguing that a similar price dispute case had previously been decided in favour of his client.
Onifade argued that the issue before the court was whether MultiChoice Nigeria provided adequate notice regarding the May 1, 2024, TV subscription price increase, not about price regulation or increase.
In its ruling, the three-member panel chaired by Thomas Okosu dismissed MultiChoice’s preliminary objection for disobeying its interim orders and subsequently imposed a 150 million naira administrative penalty on MultiChoice, along with a one-month subscription order against the Pay TV provider.
MultiChoice has subsequently filed an appeal against the ruling, arguing that the tribunal erred in its decision.
The company also filed counter-affidavits dated July 12, 2024, providing reasons for its price hike and requesting that the tribunal dismiss the case.
In its affidavits, deposed to by Damilola Olatunji, MultiChoice explained that to mitigate the impact of the weakening exchange rate in Nigeria, it was constrained to increase its subscription prices, though it did so to the least affordable extent possible.
The company insisted that it duly notified its customers and regulatory authorities before the increment was effected.
It was stated that the defendant had already filed a notice of appeal dated June 7, 2024, and an application for a stay of execution of the tribunal’s orders made on June 7, 2024, along with a request for all further proceedings before the tribunal to be stayed pending the determination of the appeal.
Onifade urged the court to determine his case in the interest of justice.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Onigbanjo asked the tribunal to adjourn the matter until the Court of Appeal decided on his applications.
He explained that the law dictates that when a tribunal is aware that an application is before the Court of Appeal, it must allow the Court of Appeal to decide.
On his part, Onifade said the issue of indefinite adjournment had been decided by the tribunal and could not be reopened by MultiChoice.
He said the stay of proceedings in his case must first be filed in the court where the decision was granted.
“It is only upon the refusal of that stay that the applicant can approach a higher court,” Onifade added.
“Even where an applicant approaches a higher court, that higher court must make a positive pronouncement before the proceedings of a lower court can be stayed.”
Counsel to the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), I.O. Alaba asked the tribunal to exercise its wisdom and discretion based on the arguments of both parties.
Ruling on the applications, Okosu said while MultiChoice has the right to appeal, “proper procedures must be followed by MultiChoice”.
He said MultiChoice’s legal team had not shown the special circumstances that restrained it from seeking the tribunal’s leave to suspend its proceedings.
“Whereas we agree that MultiChoice has the right to appeal on a matter before this tribunal, the proper procedures must be followed,” Okosu said.
“We have reviewed the positions of Order 6, Rule 4 of the court of appeal rules, and did not see or find any circumstances that prevented MultiChoice from filing a stay of proceedings and execution before this tribunal.
“In the circumstances, this tribunal has nothing to stay and will therefore proceed to hear and determine this matter.”
Okosu subsequently moved to adjourn the matter till November after the court’s vacation.
He said he could not disobey the tribunal’s own rule on vacation.
It was at this point that Onifade stated that he no longer intended to proceed with the matter, insisting that MultiChoice would leverage the vacation to argue its appeal at the Court of Appeal and frustrate his case.
The tribunal subsequently struck it out.
“The oral application of the claimant to withdraw this suit is hereby granted. No cost is awarded,” the tribunal ruled.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday, August 1, 2026, publish the particulars of all presidential and National Assembly candidates contesting the 2027 general election for public inspection at its offices across the country.
The publication of the candidates’ details, contained in Form EC9, is in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires the commission to make the personal particulars of nominated candidates available for public scrutiny within 21 days of receiving them.
Political parties concluded the online submission of the names, personal particulars and other required documents for their presidential and National Assembly candidates on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after INEC granted a 72-hour extension to the original deadline. ExecutiveBranch
Under the commission’s revised timetable, nominations for presidential and National Assembly candidates were initially scheduled to be submitted between June 27 and July 11, 2026.
Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, requires political parties to submit Forms EC9, EC9A, EC9B, EC9C, EC9D and EC9E, containing the names and personal particulars of their nominated presidential and National Assembly candidates, not later than 120 days before the election.
Speaking on whether the 72-hour extension would affect the publication date, INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, said he did not expect any change, although he stressed that he was expressing a personal opinion rather than the commission’s official position.
“I doubt. It might not necessarily affect it. It’s just for the Commission to put the information together and submit it. This is my opinion. I’m not talking officially. When it gets to the time, you will see whether the Commission will publish it or not,” he said.
Meanwhile, the online submission of nominations for governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates, which commenced on July 18, will continue until August 8, 2026.
INEC has scheduled August 29, 2026, for the publication of the personal particulars of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates through Form EC9.
The commission had earlier conducted party primaries for all elective positions between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
According to INEC’s election timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027
By Gloria Ikibah
A coalition of civil society organisations and youth groups has announced plans to convene a national dialogue on proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), seeking to ensure that the review process reflects the views of Nigerians before the Federal Government takes a final position.
The initiative, being organised by the Centre for Equity, Justice and Transparency in partnership with the Save Nigeria Movement, is expected to bring together policymakers, academics, former corps members, youth organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders to examine the future of the scheme and recommend practical reforms.
Convened by legal practitioners Sorkaa Tsembelee and Patrick Agbese, the one-day dialogue aims to generate a comprehensive working document that will be presented to the Federal Government as part of ongoing efforts to review the NYSC Act.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisers said the forum was intended to provide an inclusive platform where stakeholders could contribute meaningfully to the reform process.
The statementread: “The essence of this dialogue is for critical stakeholders to make input into the proposed NYSC reforms before the President’s administration takes final decisions.
“We will have senior academics, former corps members, youth groups and other members of society to dissect the proposed reforms thoroughly.
“It will thereafter catalyse into a working document for the Federal Government. We will invite the CDS, the Army and others. Let everyone look at it and say their own.”
Established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was designed to promote national unity, encourage integration among young graduates and foster national development through compulsory service outside their states of origin. Over the decades, corps members have played significant roles in education, healthcare, agriculture and community development, particularly in underserved communities.
However, growing concerns over the safety and welfare of corps members, inadequate funding, deployment policies and questions surrounding the relevance of some aspects of the programme have fuelled calls for a comprehensive review.
The organisers said the dialogue will assess whether the scheme still aligns with its founding objectives while identifying legislative and policy changes needed to address present-day realities.
They maintained that while reforms were necessary, the NYSC’s central mission of promoting national cohesion should be preserved alongside efforts to strengthen skills development, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.
“This is not about tearing down an institution that has served Nigeria well; it is about refining it with the collective wisdom of those who have lived the experience and those who study its impact.
“Former corps members carry practical insights that policymakers often miss, and we want those voices at the table.
“Youth groups and civil society must not be spectators while decisions that will shape the next generation of Nigerian graduates are taken. The dialogue creates the space for genuine, structured input”, it added,.
According to the organisers, discussions will focus on critical issues including corps members’ welfare, security, orientation camp facilities, deployment procedures, funding mechanisms and the effectiveness of the Community Development Service (CDS) programme.
They added that academics will provide comparative analyses of national service models in other countries, while security agencies would offer institutional perspectives on improving the protection of corps members, particularly those posted to areas affected by insecurity.
“We cannot discuss NYSC reforms without hearing from those who secure the environment in which corps members serve. The CDS and the Army have institutional knowledge that is indispensable.
“Their perspectives on logistics, security and inter-agency coordination will enrich the final document.
“Senior academicians will help us situate the proposed reforms within the broader context of nation-building. We need evidence-based contributions, not just opinions”, the said.
The organisers said the ultimate goal was to produce practical recommendations capable of informing both legislative and executive action.
They explained that the final report would reflect contributions from former corps members, scholars, security agencies, youth organisations and civil society groups, providing government with workable proposals for strengthening the scheme without compromising its original mandate.
“The working document that emerges from this dialogue must be something the government can work with.
“It should reflect the views of those who have served, those who teach, those who protect, and those who advocate.
“Anything less would be a missed opportunity. We are calling on all stakeholders to come prepared to engage constructively.
“The future of the NYSC is too important to be decided in isolation. This national dialogue is our contribution to an open, inclusive process”, the statement further read.
The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has no intention to jerk up electricity tariffs beyond the current level.
He disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
According to him, the Tinubu administration’s priorities are improving electricity service delivery, expanding access to electricity, and ensuring that Nigerians pay only for the electricity they consume.
The minister said that, over the last two weeks, the country has consistently generated 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
“We are already witnessing encouraging improvements in electricity generation. Over the course of the last two weeks, we have consistently generated 5,000MW.
“Permit me to address two issues that have generated considerable public discussion. First, there is no policy by this administration to increase electricity tariffs beyond the current level. Our priority is not a tariff increase in the immediate term. Our priority is service improvement, universal metering, and ensuring Nigerians pay only for the electricity they actually consume,” he stated.
He added that the objective of the Federal Government is to provide reliable electricity to homes across the country.
“Our ambition is clear: reliable electricity that powers our homes.”
Tegbe’s comments come amid debate over a fresh electricity tariff hike, fuelled by remarks made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Power Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka.
Nigerian electricity consumers have kicked against the proposed electricity tariff hike.
INEC set to publish details of 2027 Presidential, National Assembly candidates on August 1
CSOs, Youth Groups Push for Inclusive NYSC Reform, Convene National Dialogue
No plans to increase electricity tariffs – Power Minister assures Nigerians
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