The Federal Government has fixed October 7, 2025, for the arraignment of the Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and the company’s Managing Director/CEO, John Ugbe, over alleged violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
Justice James Omotosho gave the date on Tuesday after counsel to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Chizenum Nsitem, sought an adjournment, citing improper service of court processes on the defendants.
When the matter was called, none of the defendants was present in court.
“The prosecuting counsel requested an adjournment to ensure proper service,” which the court granted, fixing October 7 for plea-taking.
Others to be arraigned include MultiChoice Africa Holdings CEO, Fhulufhelo Badugela; Africa CFO, Retiel Tromp; Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Keabetswe Modimoeng; Director, Adebusola Bello; Fuad Ogunsanya; and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Gozie Onumonu—alongside the company itself.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025 dated May 26, MultiChoice Nigeria is the 1st defendant, while Ogunsanya, Ugbe, and six others are listed as 2nd to 9th defendants.
Count one accuses MultiChoice Nigeria of failing “without sufficient reason” to appear before the FCCPC on March 6, despite a lawful summons dated February 25, an alleged contravention of Section 33(3) of the FCCP Act.
In count six, the defendants allegedly “caused MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to impede an FCCPC investigation by refusing to produce requested documents,” contrary to Section 110 of the same Act.
The arraignment followed an ongoing dispute between the FCCPC and MultiChoice over the company’s March 1 subscription price hike.
The FCCPC had invited the company’s CEO to appear for questioning, raising concerns over “frequent price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.”
The commission warned that “failure to justify the price adjustment or adhere to fair market principles would result in regulatory sanctions.”
MultiChoice had approached the court to stop the FCCPC’s investigation, but on May 8, Justice Omotosho dismissed the suit, describing it as “an abuse of court process” since it came after a similar suit filed by lawyer Festus Onifade.