The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has fined Multichoice Nigeria ₦766.2 million for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NDPC’s Head of Legal, Enforcement, and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye, said the company breached subscribers’ privacy rights and transferred citizens’ data abroad without due process.
The fine follows an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024, prompted by allegations of intrusive and unlawful data handling. According to the NDPC, Multichoice processed personal data of both subscribers and non-subscribers without authorisation.
“The extent of data processing by Multichoice is intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. It violates the right to privacy as guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution,” the commission said.
In a related development, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in February 2025 ordered Multichoice to suspend proposed price hikes pending an investigation. However, the company implemented the increase on March 1, 2025, defying the directive.
As a result, the FCCPC filed criminal charges against Multichoice Nigeria and its CEO, John Ugbe, accusing them of obstructing an investigation, ignoring regulatory orders, and violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018. The charges include wilful obstruction, impeding an investigation, and providing false information.