In view of the restated order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday that the August 20 proclamation restraining MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from increasing the subscription tariffs for its cable television, DSTv, subsists until it is set aside, the firm has gone ahead to effect the new tariffs with a promotion to woo its subscribers.

The Guardian gathered that several calls were made to its subscribers across the country introducing them to a one-month free promo if they activate their subscription before the due date paying the new adjusted rates, which is still in contention in the courts.

Several customers of the pay TV company informed The Guardian that calls from DSTv’s customer care numbers, which included 092780777 and 08070180100, enticed them with the offer of a free one-month service with added pop-up channels by keeping their subscription active with the hiked rates.

The order by the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, was a result of an application filed before the court by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC). The case was instituted by the Federal Government through the CPC following an announcement by MultiChoice Nigeria in July that as from August 1, 2018, there would be a new monthly subscription rates hike for the DSTv Premium package from N14,700 to N15,800 (about 7.5 per cent).

Others are Compact Plus to be increased from N9,900 to N10,650; Compact Bouquet from N6,300 to N6,800; Family from N3,800 to N4,000 and Access from N1,900 to N2,000.The court restated that its order of August 20 “still subsists and in force”, adding that CPC knows what to do if an opposing party in a suit flouts a valid order of court. Justice Dimgba, who warned the defendant against taking any step that would over-reach the court, adjourned till September 3 for hearing.

In this article: