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Appeal court rejects petition for lower DStv and GoTv subscription costs

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A Competition and Consumer Protection (CCPC) Tribunal sitting in Abuja has held that the tariff increase by MultiChoice, the operator of Gotv and DStv was just and legal and that only the president of Nigeria has powers to regulate prices in certain circumstances.

The tribunal on Tuesday held that the power to regulate prices of goods and products could not, therefore, be delved into by the Protection Commission ( 2nd respondents ) nor the tribunal.

The tribunal, however, ordered Multichoice to go and investigate the operations of the pay-as-you-view subscription and report back to the tribunal within six months.

Festus A. Onifade, a legal practitioner, and Coalition of Nigeria Consumers, on behalf of himself and others, had sued the company and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as 1st and 2nd respondents, shortly after the company, on March 22, announced its plan to increase the price of its products from April 1.

The claimants have filed a suit against MultiChoice, the operator of Gotv and DStv, over the planned price hike on their products and subscription rate.

They had prayed the tribunal for an order, restraining the firm from increasing its services and other products on April 1, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated and filed on March 30, and the tribunal granted the ex-parte motion, directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.

But despite the tribunal’s order, the company was alleged to have gone ahead with the price increase on DStv and Gotv subscriptions.

And on April 11, the tribunal again ordered MultiChoice to revert back to the old prices by maintaining status quo of its March 30 order, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

But counsel for MultiChoice, Jamiu Agoro, in a motion in notice challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter.

The prayers, according to the lawyer, include “an order for stay of execution of the order of the Honourable Tribunal made on March 30, pending the determination of the instant application; an order setting aside and discharging the order of the CCPT made on March 30 in this present suit.

“An order of the Honourable tribunal striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction by the tribunal, and for such further order or other orders as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

In his six grounds enumerated, Agoro argued that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit as the claimants lacked the competence to institute the action.

The tribunal had, on June 20, granted Onifade’s reliefs in an application seeking for a leave to amend his earlier originating summons and deem it to have been properly filed.

 

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The lawyer, in another originating summons, is suing the firm, the operators of DStv and Gotv, for N10 million damages.

Onifade, in the amended originating summons dated June 17 but filed June 20, also sought the order of the tribunal directing and mandating MultiChoice to adopt a pay-as-you-view model of billing for all its products and services forthwith.

In the judgement delivered on Tuesday, the tribunal ordered Multichoice to provide its audited financial statement report of 2021 to the tribunal by September 8 to ascertain the financial status of the company to enable it determine the fine to impose for disobedience to the tribunal order of March 30 .

The tribunal, on 30 March, granted the ex-parte application directing parties to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the whole suit.

But MultiChoice disregarded the restraining order by going ahead to increase the price of its products and services.

The tribunal also held in its Tuesday judgment that conduct of the 1st defendant did not amount to market dominance as Nigeria is a free market economy.

The tribunal also the claimant could prove a case of exploitation in line with the relevant laws, consequently throwing out his request of compensation.

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

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Trump Victory Sparks Celebration in Florida, Disappointment for Harris Supporters

Jubilant supporters celebrated Donald Trump’s apparent victory in Florida early Wednesday as he claimed a return to the White House, despite most major news networks holding off on officially calling the race.

At an event in Palm Beach, Trump supporters reveled in the win projected by Fox News, cheering as the former president declared a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”

“I feel extraordinary,” said 68-year-old supporter Ted Sarvanis, dancing with arms in the air. “This is the greatest American political story in the history of the country.”

Joined by running mate J.D. Vance, Trump took the stage, celebrating his projected win. The atmosphere at the convention center was electric, with supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” caps and mingling in formal attire and Trump-themed clothing.

“I feel relieved. I was a little bit scared because you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Stacy Kurtz, 45.

In contrast, a far different scene unfolded for Vice President Kamala Harris’s supporters at Howard University in Washington, where they were hoping for a Democratic win.

As the night wore on and Trump gained electoral votes in key battleground states, disappointment swept through the crowd.

“I am scared, I am anxious now,” said Charlyn Anderson earlier in the evening.

Democratic watch parties in places like Atlanta and Pennsylvania grew somber as results rolled in, with Lynn Johnson, 65, expressing concern, “It’s going to be dangerous if he wins. I don’t feel safe.”

While Trump’s supporters celebrated a comeback, the mood among Democrats was marked by worry and disbelief.

“He’s a terrible candidate, so it just doesn’t make sense,” said Harris supporter Ken Brown.

The contrasting scenes highlighted the nation’s deep political divide on election night.

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

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Tinubu Congratulates Trump on Historic Re-Election, Eyes Stronger U.S.-Nigeria Ties

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States, expressing optimism for stronger ties between Nigeria and the U.S. in an era of global challenges.

The congratulatory message, issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasises the Nigerian leader’s hopes for a renewed partnership between the two nations.

Following his victory on Wednesday, Trump pledged to “heal” the country, marking a stunning political comeback as he edged past Kamala Harris in a closely contested election.

Tinubu, in his message, affirmed, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”

Tinubu highlighted that Trump’s return to the White House reflects the trust and confidence of the American people in his leadership, praising their commitment to democracy.

Given Trump’s experience from 2017 to 2021 as the 45th President, Tinubu foresees a new era of “earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States.”

The Nigerian President also expressed confidence that Trump’s leadership will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, acknowledging America’s significant influence on global affairs.

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Peter Obi Calls for Lasting Solution to Nigeria’s Power Crisis

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Peter Obi Calls for Lasting Solution to Nigeria’s Power Crisis

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged the federal government to find lasting solutions to Nigeria’s ongoing power crisis following yet another national grid collapse, leaving Nigerians in darkness.

Posting on his X handle, Obi highlighted the frequency of grid failures, noting that since January 2024, the grid has collapsed ten times, with three incidents occurring in October alone.

Contrasting Nigeria’s power struggles with South Africa’s recent achievements, Obi stated, “Just a few days ago, on the 25th of October, South Africa, which was Africa’s second-largest economy until recently, celebrated seven months of uninterrupted power supply. South Africa generates about 40,000 MW of electricity, while Nigeria struggles to generate and distribute just 10% of that.”

Obi criticised the tendency to frame Nigeria’s electricity issues through tribal or religious lenses, stressing, “Is there any tribe in Nigeria that enjoys uninterrupted power supply like South Africa? I am labelled a tribal bigot. When I ask if any religion enjoys special privileges in this crisis, I am called a religious bigot. But I will continue to speak the truth about our situation today.”

He urged Nigerians to set aside “primordial sentiments” and focus on electing leaders capable of advancing development goals. “The solution lies not in tribal or religious affiliations but in visionary leadership and a shared commitment to progress,” Obi stated.

He emphasised the need to prioritize investments in critical areas such as health, education, and electricity to uplift Nigerians and shift from a consumer-driven economy to a productive one.

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