The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a communications firm, Metro Digital Limited, before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over alleged cybercrime and illegal rebroadcast of pay-TV content belonging to MultiChoice Nigeria Limited.
The company was docked on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, before Justice A.T. Mohammed on an amended four-count charge bordering on unlawful interception and rebroadcast of copyrighted content.
Prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment. However, defence counsel, S.A. Somairi, SAN, attempted to halt proceedings by raising a preliminary objection.
The court dismissed the move and ordered the company to take its plea in accordance with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
According to the charges, Metro Digital Limited, alongside its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor (at large), and a staff member, Ikenna Kanu (at large), allegedly conspired between 2015 and 2019 to unlawfully intercept and rebroadcast content exclusively owned by MultiChoice in Sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the counts alleged that the defendants used technical means, including tiger boxes and dongles, to illegally transmit protected content without authorization.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the actions violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and resulted in significant financial losses to MultiChoice.
When the charges were read, the company, through its representative, pleaded “not guilty” to all four counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date, which the court granted.
Justice Mohammed subsequently adjourned the matter to June 29 and 30, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The case stems from a petition filed by MultiChoice in 2019, alleging widespread illegal rebroadcast of its subscription-based content.