EFCC arraigns firm over illegal Multichoice rebroadcast

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, arraigned Metro Digital Limited before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on an amended four-count charge bordering on cybercrime and the alleged unlawful interception and rebroadcast of Multichoice Nigeria Limited content.

Prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.

Defence counsel, S.A. Somairi (SAN), sought to halt the arraignment by drawing the court’s attention to a preliminary objection. However, Justice Mohammed rejected the move and ordered that the plea be taken in line with Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows a corporation to enter a plea through its representative.

According to one of the charges, Metro Digital Limited, its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and staff member Ikenna Kanu, allegedly conspired between 2015 and 2019 in Port Harcourt to commit unlawful interception, contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

Another charge alleged that on or about 16 August 2019, the defendants intentionally and without authorisation intercepted. It rebroadcast Multichoice content, including Tiger boxes and dongles, over which Multichoice Nigeria Limited holds exclusive rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The EFCC alleged that the company and some of its staff illegally accessed and rebroadcast Multichoice content without authorisation over several years.

Metro Digital Limited, through its representative, pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

Following the plea, the prosecution counsel requested a trial date.

Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the matter until 29 and 30 June 2026 for continuation of the trial.

The case followed a petition filed by Multichoice in 2019, alleging that the illegal rebroadcast of its content caused the company significant financial losses.