The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Metro Digital Limited before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of unlawful interception and rebroadcast of content belonging to Multichoice Nigeria Limited.
This was disclosed via a statement posted on the the commission’s official X handle.
According to the statement, the company was docked on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, on an amended four-count charge bordering on cybercrime and alleged illegal exploitation of protected broadcast materials.
During the proceedings, EFCC counsel, Steve E. Odiase informed the court that the matter was ready for arraignment.
Defence counsel, S.A. Somairi (SAN), however, raised a preliminary objection seeking to halt the process.
The court dismissed the objection and ordered that the plea be taken in line with Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which permits corporate bodies to enter pleas through a representative.
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One of the charges alleged that Metro Digital Limited, alongside its Managing Director, Ifeanyi John Nwafor (said to be at large) and a staff member, Ikenna Kanu (also at large), conspired between 2015 and 2019 in Port Harcourt to unlawfully intercept broadcast signals, contrary to Section 27(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
Another count accused the defendants of deliberately intercepting and rebroadcasting encrypted Multichoice content, including tiger boxes and dongles, without authorisation, in violation of Section 12(1) of the same Act.
The prosecution maintained that Multichoice holds exclusive broadcasting rights across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Metro Digital Limited, through its representative, pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date, and Justice Mohammed adjourned the case to June 29-30, 2026 for continuation of hearing.
The EFCC noted that investigations into the matter began in 2019 after Multichoice lodged a complaint alleging significant financial losses from the alleged illegal distribution of its content.
