Brands/Products
Employees of SLTV Operators Arrested for Illegal Rebroadcast of DStv, GOtv Channels
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two members of staff of Metrodigital Television Limited, operators of SLTV, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have been apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The two employees of the organisation were nabbed on Thursday over alleged illegal rebroadcasting of DStv and GOtv content.
The operation followed a Preservation Order issued by the Federal High Court empowering the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to take possession of equipment and documents linked to the alleged piracy. The
The raid, carried out at No. 12 Order Street, Rumuola, Stadium Link Road, GRA Phase IV, Port Harcourt, saw EFCC operatives seize broadcasting machines, decoders, transmission equipment, servers and several documents believed to contain records of signal manipulation.
The EFCC also took statements from staff members on duty during the enforcement action. The arrested men are Chinedu Nwaikwu, a director, and Uche Kanu, an engineer in the transmission room. They were caught with 22 decoders they were using for transmission at the time of arrest.
The court’s Preservation Order specifically directed the EFCC to secure and label all items connected with the unauthorised rebroadcast of DStv and GOtv channels, and to preserve them as exhibits for trial. A detailed seizure report with photographs and serial numbers of the confiscated materials is expected to be tendered before the court.
In a separate directive, the court issued an injunction restraining Metrodigital Television Ltd, its chief executive officer, Mr. Ifeanyi John Nwafor, and other associated companies including Denna Rossi Limited, Kristal Food and Beverages, and QTV Plus Limited from further accessing or transmitting the program-carrying signals, channels, and contents of DStv and GOtv pending the determination of the case.
The injunction also mandated law enforcement agencies to serve the order on all the listed defendants, shut down any ongoing unauthorised signal feeds, and monitor compliance to prevent further infringement.
Additionally, the court granted a Post-No-Debit (PND) restriction on several bank accounts linked to the alleged piracy proceeds. The affected accounts include those of Ifeanyi John Nwafor, Metrodigital Television Ltd/SLTV, Denna Rossi Limited, Kristal Food and Beverages, and QTV Plus Limited. The EFCC has been directed to notify commercial banks to enforce the restrictions, obtain account and BVN details, and preserve the funds as suspected proceeds of crime.
The case has been adjourned to October 22, 2025, for plea and continuation of trial. The court, however, declined to grant the EFCC’s request for an arrest warrant and INTERPOL watch-listing of the defendants, noting that they had not yet been formally arraigned.
The EFCC has since assured the court that all seized items have been properly secured and will be presented as evidence at the next hearing. The Commission reiterated its resolve to dismantle illegal content redistribution networks and protect the intellectual property rights of legitimate broadcasters.
The arrests and seizures were executed strictly under the authority of the Federal High Court’s preservation, injunction, and Post-No-Debit orders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
