The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Metro Digital Limited before a federal court in Lagos on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The charge stems from the alleged unlawful interception and rebroadcast of content owned by Multichoice Nigeria Limited. The EFCC brought the case following claims that the company distributed paid satellite television programming without authorization.
Metro Digital Limited is accused of intercepting encrypted signals from Multichoice and redistributing them to subscribers. The act is alleged to have occurred without licensing or consent from the rightful content provider. The EFCC filed the charge under Nigeria's cybercrime and telecommunications laws, which prohibit unauthorized access to digital signals.
No plea was taken at the initial hearing, and the court adjourned for the next stage of proceedings. The EFCC has not disclosed further operational details about how the rebroadcast allegedly took place. Multichoice Nigeria Limited has not issued a public statement on the matter.
The EFCC is prosecuting Metro Digital Limited for rebroadcasting Multichoice content while Multichoice itself has previously faced public complaints over subscription costs and service disruptions. Nigerians paying for now-protected broadcasts may question the priority of enforcing content rights over addressing affordability. The case shifts focus from consumer burden to signal protection without clarifying either issue.
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