Metrodigital Limited, operators of the indigenous satellite Pay-TV service SLTV, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of overreach and bias after the anti-graft agency raided its Port Harcourt headquarters over alleged illegal rebroadcast of DStv and GOtv channels owned by Multichoice Nigeria.
The company, in a strongly worded statement, described Thursday’s EFCC operation as “a show of impunity and a calculated attempt to suppress indigenous competition,” calling it “a misuse of state power to settle a civil broadcast dispute.”
EFCC Raid and Arrests
According to reports, EFCC operatives stormed Metrodigital’s head office located at No. 12 Order Street, Rumuola, Stadium Link Road, GRA Phase IV, Port Harcourt, acting on a Federal High Court preservation order issued by Justice Adamu Mohammed.
The operatives confiscated broadcasting servers, decoders, transmission equipment, documents, and laptops, while also arresting two key employees — Chinedu Nwaikwu, a director, and Uche Kanu, an engineer in the transmission unit.
An EFCC source claimed the operation was in line with a directive to seize and preserve evidence linked to alleged unauthorized rebroadcasting of satellite content belonging to Multichoice’s DStv and GOtv platforms.
However, Metrodigital maintains that the matter is a civil dispute, currently pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and therefore outside EFCC’s jurisdiction.
Company’s Reaction: “EFCC Acting on Multichoice’s Behalf”
In a statement signed by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwafor, Metrodigital condemned the raid as “a clear case of abuse of judicial process” and “an attempt by Multichoice to use state institutions to stifle competition.”
Nwafor explained that the company had earlier secured a favorable judgment at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt in Appeal No: CA/PH/188/2021, where the court directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to compel Multichoice to sub-license its channels to Metrodigital in line with Nigeria’s broadcasting code. The NBC reportedly complied before Multichoice appealed to the Supreme Court under Appeal No: SC/CV/1248/2022.
“It is shocking that despite the matter being before the Supreme Court, EFCC operatives invaded our offices in a commando-style operation, carting away equipment and manhandling innocent employees. How can a civil issue under the jurisdiction of NBC and NCC become a criminal case under EFCC?” Nwafor asked.
The company also revealed that despite filing an application as an interested party before the same Federal High Court, the EFCC “surreptitiously” obtained an ex parte order authorizing the seizure of Metrodigital’s assets.
A History of Industry Suppression
Metrodigital alleged that this was not the first time EFCC had been used to target indigenous Pay-TV firms, recalling that a similar incident occurred in 2019 under former EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, when Multichoice allegedly influenced raids on local operators under the umbrella of ACON (Association of Cable Operators of Nigeria).
“It is sad that in 2025, the same pattern is repeating itself — a government agency acting as a private enforcement arm of a foreign company. This amounts to economic sabotage and a disincentive to local investors,” the statement added.
The company further accused EFCC of misleading the court and extending the seizure order to unrelated firms such as Denna Rossi Limited and Krystal Foods & Beverages, both of which have no ties to the broadcast dispute.
Industry Concerns and Legal Implications
The raid has sparked public concern over regulatory overreach, especially given that issues of signal distribution, rebroadcasting rights, and licensing fall under the statutory mandate of the NBC and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) — not the EFCC.
Legal analysts say the development raises serious questions about the independence of regulatory bodies and the potential weaponization of law enforcement agencies to favor dominant market players.
“If the EFCC continues to involve itself in civil business disputes, it could set a dangerous precedent for market competition in Nigeria,” one Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner told The Nation.
Metrodigital insists that it will pursue all available legal remedies to challenge the seizure and protect its business, emphasizing that indigenous media firms must not be silenced in their own country.
“The EFCC raid does not pass the test of common sense. It undermines investor confidence and portrays Nigeria as hostile to local enterprise. We are determined to seek justice through lawful means,” Nwafor affirmed.
Next Steps
The matter is expected to come up for hearing on October 22, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, where Metrodigital has filed applications challenging the EFCC’s actions and seeking restitution for what it termed “an unlawful invasion.”
As the case unfolds, industry observers say the outcome will likely redefine the boundaries between civil commercial regulation and criminal enforcement within Nigeria’s media and communications landscape.
Metrodigital Limited has accused the EFCC of overreach after a controversial raid on its Port Harcourt headquarters over alleged rebroadcast of DStv and GOtv channels. The company says the issue is a civil dispute still pending before the Supreme Court and blames Multichoice for using state institutions to stifle competition.
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