The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has imposed a fine of ₦766,242,500 on Multichoice Nigeria for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

In a statement by the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, the commission cited violations of subscribers’ privacy rights and the unlawful transfer of citizens’ data across borders.

The sanction followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024 after allegations surfaced regarding 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 to both subscribers and individuals who were not Multichoice customers.

In February 2025, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ordered the pay-TV operator to suspend planned price hikes pending the outcome of an investigation. However, Multichoice went ahead with a price increase on March 1, 2025, which the commission described as a deliberate violation of its directive.

Subsequently, 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 orders, and violating sections of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

The charges include willful obstruction, impeding an investigation, and providing misleading information to the commission.

NDPC also said it found that the company had been transferring Nigerians’ data abroad without following due process.