In August, MultiChoice Nigeria increased DStv Nigeria subscribers' monthly subscription fees for the first time since May 2017.
Complaining Nigerians are comfortably clueless that even with the DStv price hike they're still paying less in Africa's second largest pay-TV market than DStv subscribers in other countries like South Africa despite it having a better economy and stronger currency.
MultiChoice Africa in fact absorbed massive losses suffered in Nigeria the past 3 years due to its tanking currency, that took a huge bite out of its overall profit in Africa (excluding South Africa) - something that the rest of MultiChoice Africa's business on the continent essentially had to "cross-subsidize" after Nigeria became a profit-destroying black hole.
The onslaught against MultiChoice Nigeria comes as the West African nation with its struggling economy, depreciating naira currency, rampant inflation and an upcoming election in February 2019, has gone to war against several multi-national companies doing business in the country.
This includes several South African firms with a local Nigerian presence, ranging from MTN Nigeria to Standard Bank (Stanbic IBTC Bank) all suddenly the target to see what further money can be fleeced from them.
The ominous and draconian attack on companies - including on MultiChoice Nigeria that has struggled the past few years but remained committed to stay in Nigeria - will scare away foreign investors and ongoing foreign investment in president Muhammadu Buhari's Nigeria.
Nigeria's belligerent, confused and corrupt Consumer Protection Council (CPC) got a temporary injunction against MultiChoice Nigeria on 23 August, forcing the company to somehow halt its subscription increase weeks after it already went into effect, and now already in effect for its second month in September.
Judge Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja granted the injunction, saying that "the interim injunction restraining MultiChoice Nigeria or its agents and representatives was to halt its continuing implementation of any increase in subscription rates".
MultiChoice Nigeria then lodged an appeal against the interim injunction, but Judge Nnamdi Dimgba has now rejected it.
Judge Nnamdi Dimgba also refused MultiChoice Nigeria's application to apparently adjourn the case indefinitely and it was adjourned to 9 October 2018.
