A Lagos State High Court has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, operators of DStv and GOtv, to pay ₦5 million in general damages to a subscriber for the wrongful and willful disconnection of his cable television service.
The case, with suit number LD/ADR/2297/2019, was filed in 2019 by Ben Onuora, the Obi of Okwudor in Imo State, who had sought ₦20 million in damages for what he described as unlawful service disruption and breach of contract.
Delivering judgment, the court ruled that MultiChoice acted unfairly and in bad faith by disconnecting the plaintiff’s subscription without just cause, despite evidence of valid payment for the service period.
Justice [Name withheld in report] held that such corporate behavior amounted to a violation of consumer rights and ordered MultiChoice to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the claimant.
The ruling has been hailed by consumer rights advocates as a landmark decision that reinforces accountability among service providers and strengthens the protection of subscribers against arbitrary disconnections.
MultiChoice has yet to issue an official response to the judgment as of the time of this report.