EFCC arraigns firm over alleged illegal rebroadcast of Multichoice content
Metro Digital Limited Faces Charges of Content Theft in Federal Court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against Metro Digital Limited in a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, alleging the unauthorized interception and rebroadcast of content owned by Multichoice Nigeria Limited.
The company was arraigned on May 5, 2026, before Justice A.T. Mohammed, in relation to an amended four-count charge concerning cybercrime. Prosecution attorney Steve E. Odiase informed the court that the session was specifically for the arraignment. In response, defense counsel S.A. Somairi, SAN, filed a preliminary objection aiming to halt the proceedings. Justice Mohammed, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, rejected this request and proceeded with the plea.
The charges detail that Metro Digital Limited, along with its Managing Director Ifeanyi John Nwafor and employee Ikenna Kanu, allegedly conspired from 2015 to 2019 to intercept and rebroadcast content from Multichoice without the necessary authorization. The indictment claims the company utilized various technical devices, including decoder systems, to transmit content for which Multichoice holds exclusive distribution rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Through its representative, Metro Digital Limited entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date, leading the court to adjourn the case until June 29 and 30, 2026, for further proceedings.
The EFCC’s investigation into this matter began in 2019 after Multichoice raised concerns over the illegal rebroadcasting of its content, claiming it resulted in considerable financial losses. The EFCC issued a statement regarding the case on its official page on May 5, 2026.
