“The power to fix prices is exclusively that of the President. Any decision taken without such delegation is a nullity.”
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed MultiChoice’s suit against the FCCPC’s interference in its recent price adjustment, declaring it procedurally flawed due to similar pending litigation. Justice James Omotoso ruled that while the FCCPC has investigative powers, it cannot unilaterally fix or suspend prices without presidential delegation. “The power to fix prices is exclusively that of the President. Any decision taken without such delegation is a nullity,” he stated, emphasizing Nigeria’s free-market system where consumers retain choice.
The judge further held that the FCCPC’s directive for MultiChoice to halt its price hike violated the company’s right to fair hearing and appeared discriminatory. The ruling reaffirms service providers’ autonomy in pricing, though the FCCPC’s broader regulatory authority remains intact for consumer protection investigations.