The Federal Government has said it will arraign the Chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, John Ugbe, over allegations of breaching the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date yesterday after counsel to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Chizenum Nsitem, made the application due to the defendants’ absence in court.

Others to be arraigned alongside the duo are six top officers of the pay-Tv company, including the CEO of MultiChoice Africa Holdings, Fhulufhelo Badugela; the Chief Financial Officer, Africa, Retiel Tromp; and the Group Executive for Corporate Affairs, Keabetswe Modimoeng.

The other accused persons also include a director, Adebusola Bello; Fuad Ogunsanya; Gozie Onumonu, who is the Head of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, and the company itself.

When the matter was called yesterday, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.

The prosecuting agency’s lawyer sought an adjournment to enable them to do the needful, and the judge adjourned the matter till October 7 for the defendants to take their plea.

The government also said it will arraign the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, Mr. Temi Birdzell, alongside the company and its top officers on October 7 for alleged breach of the FCCPC Act, 2018.

The defendants will be arraigned before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Others to be arraigned with Birdzell are: the Account Manager of the airline, Stella Ihediwa; the Country Manager, Kennedy Chirchir; and the Sales Manager of the company, Eva Ojeje.

Although the arraignment was scheduled for yesterday, the matter could not proceed.

Upon resumed hearing, none of the defendants was in court.

When the matter was called, none of the defendants was in court due to improper service of the court documents, including the hearing notice, on them.

FCCPC’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, told the court of the agency’s inability to serve four of the defendants, although the company was served.

Nsitem sought an adjournment to enable them to do the needful, and the judge adjourned the matter till October 7 for the defendants to take their plea.