Courts Order Multichoice, Peace Mass Transit to Pay Damages for Consumer Rights Violations

Two recent court rulings in Lagos and Enugu have reinforced consumer protection in Nigeria, ordering Multichoice Nigeria Limited and Peace Mass Transit to pay damages for violating consumer rights.

The Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice R. O. Olukolu, ordered Multichoice to pay ₦5 million in damages to a DStv subscriber, Mr. Ben Onuora, for unlawfully disconnecting his active subscription despite verified payment. The Court ruled that the service disruption caused unnecessary inconvenience to Mr. Onuora and his family. It further ordered the company to reconnect the service immediately and extend the subscription to cover the period of disconnection, citing Sections 130, 136, and 142–145 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

In Enugu, the High Court under Justice C. O. Ajah declared Peace Mass Transit’s “no refund after payment” policy illegal and void, in violation of Sections 120, 104, and 129(1) of the FCCPA. The company was ordered to pay ₦500,000 in damages to a passenger, Mr. Tochukwu Odo, whose fare was withheld after an uncompleted trip. The Court held that service providers must refund customers when a service is not rendered, emphasizing that denying refunds breaches statutory consumer rights.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) welcomed the judgments, describing them as major victories for consumer justice. In a statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the decisions demonstrate the robustness of Nigeria’s consumer protection framework and the effectiveness of judicial enforcement under the FCCPA 2018.

Mr. Bello commended the judiciary for delivering outcomes that strengthen consumer confidence and marketplace accountability. He also praised consumers for seeking redress through lawful means, noting that such cases affirm the courts’ readiness to uphold consumer rights.

Between March and August 2025, the FCCPC facilitated recoveries exceeding ₦10 billion for consumers across 30 sectors, according to Bello, who added that consistent judicial enforcement complements the Commission’s regulatory work and signals that violations carry real consequences.

He urged consumers to continue reporting unfair business practices through the FCCPC’s complaint portal, email, or offices nationwide. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting fair markets, protecting consumer rights, and ensuring accountability across all sectors of the economy.