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In a surprising turn of events, Nigerian lawyer Festus Sanmi Onifade has officially withdrawn a high-profile lawsuit filed against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). 

The lawsuit had challenged what Onifade described as an unjust and exploitative price hike on MultiChoice subscription services.

The legal action, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was discontinued via a formal Notice of Discontinuance dated April 1, 2025. 

The document, personally signed by Onifade, did not provide any reason for the sudden withdrawal of the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2025.

The development has left many Nigerians puzzled, especially as Onifade was previously outspoken about the alleged violation of consumer rights. 

The lawyer had initially sought a ruling from the court that MultiChoice’s decision to increase its prices with only eight days’ notice was a breach of Section 128 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

In his originating summons, Onifade raised several legal questions:

Was MultiChoice’s short notice of price increment unfair and unjust under Nigerian law?

Did the ongoing appeal in MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd & Ors v. Festus Onifade & Ors not prohibit MultiChoice from implementing another hike?

Among the declaratory reliefs sought in the withdrawn case were:

A court order declaring MultiChoice’s eight-day price hike notice unreasonable.

A suspension of the new pricing structure until the appeal was resolved.

A directive mandating FCCPC to enforce consumer rights protections.

Compensation of ₦20 million for consumer rights violations.

₦2 million to cover the cost of litigation.

Onifade’s sudden change of heart raises many questions. Was there a settlement behind closed doors? Or was there pressure from external stakeholders?

Consumer advocacy groups and legal analysts are now calling for greater transparency, especially when major consumer rights cases like this one vanish from the court’s docket without explanation.

Meanwhile, MultiChoice has not issued any official statement regarding the withdrawal. The silence has only fueled speculation and debate among subscribers, many of whom feel powerless against frequent price increases with minimal consultation.

For now, the case is officially closed, but the controversy surrounding pay-TV pricing in Nigeria is far from over.

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