Court orders MultiChoice to pay lawyer N3m over disrupted football broadcast

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has ordered MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd. to pay a total of N3 million in damages and costs to an Abuja-based lawyer, David Ogundipe, for breaching its contractual obligation to provide uninterrupted DStv service during a live football match.

In a judgment recently delivered by Justice N.C. Ndukwe-Nwabulu in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/588/2025, the court held that MultiChoice failed to provide uninterrupted transmission of the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United and Rangers FC played on January 23, 2025, thereby breaching its contract with the subscriber.

Ogundipe, through his counsel, O.E. Oluwadamisi of Earnest Attorneys LP, had sued MultiChoice after the broadcast of the match was interrupted for more than 10 minutes despite the company’s advertisements and representations assuring subscribers of uninterrupted viewing.

According to the claimant, he purchased a DStv decoder in 2024 after being persuaded by the company’s promotional campaigns, which promised seamless transmission. A Manchester United supporter and football enthusiast, he argued that the prolonged disruption amounted to a breach of contract and misleading representation.

While MultiChoice admitted that there was a technical glitch during the match, it maintained that the disruption resulted from the incoming broadcast feed from UEFA rather than any fault in its own systems.

However, the court held that the company failed to prove that the interruption was beyond its control, noting that it did not present sufficient evidence to support its defence.

Justice Ndukwe-Nwabulu ruled that although there was no evidence of fraudulent misrepresentation by MultiChoice, the interruption constituted a breach of contract, entitling the claimant to civil remedies.

The court awarded Ogundipe N1.5 million in general damages for breach of contract and N1.5 million as the cost of the suit, bringing the total award to N3 million. The court also ordered 10 percent post-judgment interest per annum on the judgment sum until it is fully paid.

However, the judge dismissed the claimant’s demand for over N255.9 million in special damages, holding that the claim was neither specifically pleaded nor strictly proved.

The judgment further declared that subscribers are entitled to quality and uninterrupted subscription services, including live football broadcasts, under their contractual relationship with MultiChoice.

Reacting to the judgment, Ogundipe described the decision as a significant victory for consumer rights and commended the court for holding service providers accountable.

“This ruling is a victory not just for me but for every Nigerian consumer who has been short-changed by service providers who make grand promises in their advertisements only to deliver something far less,” he said.

He added that the judgment sends a strong message that companies must honour the commitments they make to consumers through their advertisements and contractual obligations.

Ogundipe has previously instituted legal actions challenging what he describes as anti-consumer practices, including service charges imposed by restaurants, no-refund policies, and the unlawful processing of consumers’ personal data.