A record fine of ₦766,242,500 has been imposed on MultiChoice Nigeria by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for serious data violation breaches of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
The penalty was issued for the unauthorised processing of personal data and the illegal cross-border transfer of Nigerians’ data, following an extensive investigation that was initiated in the second quarter of 2024 after concerns were raised about the handling of customer information by MultiChoice.
It was revealed during the probe that the privacy rights of subscribers had been violated, and that the data of their associates had been processed without lawful consent or justification.
Additionally, the personal data of Nigerian citizens had been unlawfully transferred across borders by the company.
MultiChoice’s data practices were described by Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPC’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, as “patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate,” constituting a “grave affront” to the constitutional right to privacy guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
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He emphasised that data sovereignty must be protected under national and international laws due to its implications for the rule of law, national security, and economic growth.
Despite earlier directives issued by the commission for remedial actions to be taken by MultiChoice, the response provided by the company was deemed inadequate. Consequently, the maximum penalty under the law was enforced by the NDPC.
A comprehensive compliance audit of all platforms through which Nigerian citizens’ data is collected by MultiChoice has also been ordered by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, NDPC’s National Commissioner, with a warning that any further violations will be met with statutory sanctions.
The fine is marked as the largest enforcement action taken by the NDPC since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act in 2023, underscoring the commitment of the commission to safeguarding citizens’ data rights and enforcing compliance among major corporations operating in Nigeria.
No public statement has yet been issued by MultiChoice Nigeria regarding the fine or the findings of the NDPC.
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