The long-running criminal case filed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and its senior executives has been formally withdrawn. The decision comes after both parties reportedly reached an amicable out-of-court settlement, effectively concluding the regulatory dispute over subscription price hikes.
The withdrawal was confirmed on Tuesday during a hearing before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Daniel Amadi, counsel for the FCCPC, informed the court that a notice of withdrawal had been filed on August 16, stating clearly: “Parties have settled and we agree to withdraw this suit.” The defense counsel, Rolake Akingbola, raised no objection, leading Justice Omotosho to subsequently strike out the seven-count criminal charge against the pay-TV operator and its executives.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, had stemmed from the FCCPC’s investigation into MultiChoice’s decision to increase DStv and GOtv tariffs earlier this year, prompting public complaints. The regulator had accused the pay-TV giant of potential market dominance abuse and anti-competitive practices. The charges themselves focused on the executives’ alleged failure to comply with regulatory summons on March 6, 2025, and the company’s alleged obstruction of the investigation by refusing to produce requested documents, offenses contrary to the FCCPC Act, 2018.
Among the high-ranking officials listed as defendants were Adewunmi Ogunsanya (Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria), John Ugbe (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer), and Fhulufhelo Badugela (CEO of MultiChoice Africa Holdings), alongside other senior group executives.
The withdrawal formalizes a negotiation process that followed months of back-and-forth legal exchanges, including a separate suit filed by MultiChoice seeking to restrain the FCCPC, which Justice Omotosho had dismissed in May as an abuse of court process. The striking out of the criminal charge signals an end to this chapter of the regulatory scrutiny, with both sides moving forward having settled their outstanding issues.
