Court Orders Accelerated Hearing Of Suit Challenging Sales Of Prepaid Meters In Kogi

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had been slammed with seven billion Naira damages for crazy billing, extortion and under supply of electricity.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has on Wednesday granted an order of accelerated hearing on a suit challenging the legality of sales of prepaid meters to electricity consumers in Kogi West Senatorial district, arbitrary and crazy billing, extortion and under supply of electricity in the area.

A former ADC Senatorial Candidate in the just concluded election and Civil Rights Activist, Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi, on behalf of the Kogi West electricity consumers had through a Writ of Summons supported with Motion on Notice pursuant brought to Order 28 of the Federal High Court (civil rule procedure) dragged the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the Hon Minister of Power, Works and Housing and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission before Honourable Justice Okorowo over the illegality of the AEDC in the sales of prepaid meters, arbitrary estimated and undersupply of electricity to the people according to the rules guiding estimated billing system.

Omoluabi who swore to a 12 Paragraphs Affidavit under oath in suit number FHC/LKJ/CS/88/2019 before His Lordship, Hon. Justice Okorowo of the Federal High Court, is seeking for the following reliefs:

1. An interlocutory order of injunction restraining AEDC from carrying out sales of prepaid meters to unsuspecting customers.

2. A declaration that AEDC estimated billing is illegal, unlawful and null and void being contrary to the laid down regulations guiding billing of electricity customers.

3. A declaration that GET metered of AEDC asking customers to pay for meter is illegal and contrary to the provision of Section 67 of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Act, 2005 and paragraph 4(1) of the MAP Regulations NERC-R-112-2018 and thus null, void and of no effect.

4. An order of the court restraining AEDC from using estimated billing without recourse to the extant laws and the consumables of the consumers.

5. An order of court directing the AEDC to issue prepaid meters to all its customers immediately at no cost whatsoever.

6. An order of court directing AEDC to pay seven billion Naira being the illegal money generated on estimated billing in Kogi West.

While ruling on the exparte motion, Hon Justice Okorowo granted the order of accelerated hearing on the motion on notice and adjourned till 28th May for hearing of the motion on notice.

Reacting to the ruling, Omoluabi thanked the judge for being sensitive to the plight of electricity consumers in Kogi West. He assured the people that he will pursue the case with every vigor to ensure justice for over hundreds and thousands of customers in Kogi West. He went further to explain the ordeals, untold frustration and challenges the people face daily in the hands of AEDC.