A Federal High Court in Lagos today, Thursday 28th May 2015 dismissed the suit filed by some disaffected subscribers challenging the recent 20 per cent increase in subscription rates of MultiChoice’s DStv.
The subscribers who was identified as Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, who are both lawyers, had filed the suit on behalf of themselves and other DStv subscribers in the country.
The plaintiffs had sought an order of the court restraining MultiChoice from effecting the new rates, which began on April 1, 2015.
But in his ruling, Justice Chukwujeku Aneke upheld the preliminary objection filed by MultiChoice and described the suit an abuse of court process.
The judge rejected the plaintiff’s argument that MultiChoice did not deserve to be given right of audience, having failed to abide by an earlier ex parte order of the court restraining the company from implementing the rates.
Justice Aneke said the court was bound to entertain arguments from all parties before it, notwithstanding the alleged violation of the court order.
The court also ruled that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action, given that the plaintiffs were not obliged to remain MultiChoice subscribers on account of the hike in subscription rates.
