MultiChoice, a South African firm, has been compelled by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt to licence certain of its channels to Metro Digital.
In Nigeria, Metro Digital sued the owners of DStv and Gotv, citing the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission’s rule of conduct (NBC).
Co-defendants included the NBC and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.
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After MultiChoice turned down a sublicense license in 2021, the applicant filed a lawsuit against the company.
Metro Digital filed an appeal after first losing the case before the High Court.
Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe commanded MultiChoice to licence the channels in 21 days on Wednesday.
The judge ruled that by declining to respond to Metro Digital’s objections with instructions, the NBC violated its legal obligations.
The High Court was criticized by Justice Adegbehingbe for deleting the third respondent’s name.
“The appeal is highly successful and the judgment of lower court dismissing the entirety of the appellant is hereby set aside”, he said.
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In accordance with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, sixth edition, as amended, the judge issued an order directing the second respondent to comply with the appellant’s complaints against the first respondent.
Justice Adegbehingbe directed the NBC to “initiate the process for the determination of the dispute between the appellant and the first respondent within 21days from the date of this judgment under the auspices of the NBC Act, 6th edition of the NBC Code and its addendum”.
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