A lawyer, Festus Sanmi Onifade, has withdrawn his lawsuit challenging alleged unfair price hikes by MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Also listed as Defendant in the suit is the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

In a Notice of Discontinuance dated April 1, 2025, the claimant formally informed the court of his decision to wholly withdraw the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2025.

The notice signed by Onifade, however, did not advance any reasons for the withdrawal.

Onifade earlier approached the court to challenge what he described as an unfair and unjust price increase announced by MultiChoice Nigeria, slated to take effect March 15, 2025.

In the originating summons, he asked the court to determine, among other things: Whether, given Section 128 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and other relevant laws, the notice of the impending price increase issued by the first defendant was not unfair, unjust, grossly inadequate, and a breach of his consumer rights.

Whether considering the subsisting appeal in MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd & Ors v. Festus Onifade & Ors, the defendant was not stopped from further increasing the price of its services.

Among the reliefs sought, the claimant requested several declaratory and mandatory orders, including: ?A declaration that the eight-day notice preceding the price increase was unreasonable and violated consumer rights.

?An order compelling MultiChoice to suspend the proposed hike and maintain the status quo pending the determination of the said appeal.

?A directive for the FCCPC to enforce compliance with consumer protection laws.

?The Defendant seeks award of Damages amounting to N20 million for the alleged violation of the claimant?s rights. And an additional N2 million as the cost of the suit.?

The suit centered on a legal tussle between Onifade and MultiChoice over price hikes, which the claimant insists are being implemented in defiance of regulatory standards and without adequate consumer engagement. (The Guardian)

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