Multichoice Fined N766m by FG for Privacy Violations
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has levied a fine of N766,242,500 on Multichoice Nigeria for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act, citing violations of subscribers’ privacy rights and the unlawful transfer of citizens’ personal data across borders.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, stated that the sanction followed an investigation initiated in the second quarter of 2024 after allegations emerged concerning the company’s intrusive data processing activities.
“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. This is a grave affront to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the country’s data regulator said.
According to the NDPC, the probe uncovered multiple breaches, including the unauthorised processing of personal data belonging not only to subscribers but also to individuals who were not Multichoice customers.
It further discovered that the company had transferred Nigerians’ data abroad without adhering to due process.
The commission revealed that it had instructed Multichoice to implement remedial measures as part of its standard enforcement protocols. However, the company’s response was considered “unsatisfactory,” prompting the imposition of the fine.
“For want of cooperation, the commission has directed Multichoice to pay N766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act,” Bamigboye said.
He added that the National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has ordered an extensive investigation into all Multichoice data collection outlets nationwide. “Any outlet that processes personal data in violation of the NDP Act is liable to a penalty under the Act,” he said.
The NDPC emphasized that Nigeria reserves the right to uphold its data sovereignty under both local and international laws, warning that such violations carry serious consequences for the rule of law, national security, and economic development.
This regulatory action intensifies the growing scrutiny Multichoice Nigeria has been facing across various sectors.
In February 2025, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission instructed the pay-TV provider to suspend its planned price hikes pending the conclusion of an investigation. However, Multichoice proceeded with a price increase on March 1, 2025, an action the commission labeled a deliberate defiance of its directive.
As a result, the FCCPC filed criminal charges against Multichoice Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, accusing them of obstructing an ongoing investigation, defying regulatory directives, and breaching provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
The charges include willful obstruction, impeding an investigation, and supplying misleading information to the commission.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
• This Nollywood Film Has a Message You Need Right Now – The Hidden Treasure
Pingback: USA President Donald Trump Receives Multiple Nominations for Nobel Peace Prize