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DStv Subscription: Court dismisses MultiChoice suit against FCCPC‎‎

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, challenging the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) intervention following a recent hike in subscription cost.

‎‎In the judgment, Justice James Omotoso ruled that the suit constituted an abuse of court process as similar proceedings were already pending elsewhere.

‎‎The judge stressed that MultiChoice should have pursued its arguments in that court. He said if that was done it would have rendered the suit at the Federal High Court procedurally inappropriate.

‎‎Justice Omotoso noted that while the Commission has investigative powers under its establishing Act, it, however, lacks the authority to fix or suspend prices unless as delegated by the President through a gazetted instrument. No such delegation was presented to the court.‎‎

“The power to fix prices is exclusively that of the President. Any decision taken without such delegation is a nullity,” the judge stated.

‎‎He added that because Nigeria operates a free market system, service providers like MultiChoice have the right to set their prices, with consumers free to accept or reject them.‎‎

The judge further ruled that FCCPC’s actions, including directing MultiChoice to suspend its price increase, is in breach of the company’s right to fair hearing and appeared selectively targeted.

He dismissed the FCCPC’s claim that MultiChoice held a dominant market position, calling the argument untenable.

‎‎“The use of services like those provided by the plaintiff is discretionary and not essential. Nigeria can do without it,” Justice Omotosho added.

The judge thereby warned that attempts to fix prices by regulatory bodies could scare off potential investors and harm the economy.

‎‎The court held  that while the FCCPC may investigate market practices, it cannot impose price controls without proper legal backing.‎‎

MultiChoice had increased subscription rates by up to 25% on March 1, 2025, citing inflation and the attendant rose in operational cost. ‎‎

Following public outcry, the FCCPC opposed the move, calling for regulatory review and threatening sanctions, prompting the lawsuit.‎

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Victor Osimhen is Moniepoint’s brand ambassador for ‘Made for Your Progress’ campaign

Made for Your Progress is our promise to every Nigerian with a dream – that we will provide the financial comfort, confidence, and freedom they need to focus on building those dreams.

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Moniepoint Microfinance Bank (MFB) has appointed Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen as its brand ambassador as part of its newly launched campaign, Made for Your Progress.

The company said the initiative is designed to emphasise its support for Nigerians pursuing personal and business growth.

Managing Director of Moniepoint MFB, Babatunde Olofin, explained that the campaign highlights the contributions of individuals and small businesses to the economy.“

At Moniepoint, we have always believed that the ambitions of Nigerians are the bedrock of our economy as evidenced by the informal economy’s contributions to GDP,” Olofin said.

“We celebrate the people behind the many businesses we serve, and the individuals who have created value with our personal banking service.

Made for Your Progress is our promise to every Nigerian with a dream – that we will provide the financial comfort, confidence, and freedom they need to focus on building those dreams.”

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FIRS says TIN not needed to operate bank accounts

The TIN is a 13-digit identifier uniquely capturing details of taxable persons and entities. It encodes information such as issuance year, registry source (NIN for individuals, RC for companies), state of registration, and a cryptographic security fragment.

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS) has clarified that Nigerians are not required to obtain a separate Tax Identification Number (TIN) before operating or opening bank accounts.

The TIN is a 13-digit identifier uniquely capturing details of taxable persons and entities. It encodes information such as issuance year, registry source (NIN for individuals, RC for companies), state of registration, and a cryptographic security fragment.

In a statement posted on her official X handle, the Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Chairman, Aderonke Atoyebi, said that the clarification becomes necessary as a result of widespread reports suggesting that, from January 2026, citizens would need to present a TIN to access banking services—a claim that sparked public concern over the possibility of new bureaucratic hurdles.

She said that the reports were misleading and that the TIN framework has been designed to integrate with existing national registries such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records.

“In recent debates about Nigeria’s tax reforms, a widespread misconception has taken root: that citizens without a TIN cannot own or operate a bank account.

The reality is that Nigeria’s tax system has evolved to integrate seamlessly with existing national registries, ensuring that every eligible individual or entity is automatically identifiable for tax purposes,” she wrote.

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UPDATE: Dangote Refinery Cuts Fuel Prices, Updates Petrol Supply

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Dangote Refinery has announced a nationwide petrol price cut, ahead of the launch of its direct fuel distribution initiative now set for Monday, September 15, 2025.

Originally scheduled for August 15, the initiative will see the $20 billion, 650,000 bpd refinery deliver petrol and diesel directly to consumers using 4,000 CNG trucks, with zero logistics cost.

Despite an ongoing dispute with NUPENG, Dangote Group released a fresh price template on its X account, confirming its gantry price remains N820 per litre.

Retail prices have dropped to N841 per litre in Lagos and the South-West (from N860), and N851 per litre in Abuja, South-South, and North Central states (from N885)—a reduction of N19 to N34 per litre, depending on the location.

The new prices apply only to MRS and Dangote’s official distribution partners, as independent marketers are not bound by the template.

Meanwhile, NUPENG has threatened a fresh strike, accusing Dangote of reneging on earlier agreements—a claim the company denies, affirming workers’ right to union membership.

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