The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has taken Metro Digital Limited to a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt for alleged illegal interception and rebroadcast of content owned by Multichoice Nigeria Limited.
The arraignment took place on May 5, 2026 before Justice A.T Mohammed at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State following an amended four-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
Prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase, told the court the matter was for arraignment while defence counsel, S.A. Somairi, SAN, raised a preliminary objection seeking to halt proceedings.
The court however dismissed the request and ordered that the plea be recorded. Justice Mohammed cited sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which allows a company to plead through its representative.
The company and its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor and staff member Ikenna Kanu, were all accused of conspiracy from 2015 to 2019 to unlawfully intercept and rebroadcast Multichoice content without authorisation.
The charge also said the firm allegedly used technical devices, including decoder systems, to retransmit content to which Multichoice holds exclusive rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Metro Digital Limited, through its representative pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
After the plea, the prosecution sought a trial date and the court adjourned the matter to June 29 and 30, 2026 for continuation of trial.
The anti-graft agency said that its investigation into the matter started in 2019, following a report by Multichoice on the alleged illegal rebroadcast of its content, which it said led to huge financial losses.
The statement was published on the official EFCC page on May 5, 2026.
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