Judiciary
By Anthony Isibor
THE Southeast Electricity Consumers Association, SEECA, says that Ndigbo will be in court on September 26 to support them in the case against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.
The SEECA said in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha that the case, which has been in court since July, was to stop the SEECA from informing electricity consumers in the South East of their rights and obligations.
It added that the EEDC had claimed that the activities of the association in the South East was causing them loses and wanted the court to award it N5 billion
The association revealed that the EEDC has deposed false and contradictory affidavit in court on the case, which is scheduled to come up on the 26th of September, 2024 at the Federal High Court 1, Enugu.
The association also alleged that the EEDC is also querying the validity of the registration of SEECA and had gone ahead to threaten the Social Welfare Department of Enugu North LGA to withdraw the certificate of Registration or they will sue them for N5 billion.
The association, however, said that this was of no consequence as the association could do its job without registration, according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“SEECA is using the electronic, print and social media for the first time since the unbundling of PHCN 10 years ago, to educate electricity consumers in the South East of their rights and obligations. This is what EEDC had gone to Court to stop us from doing.
“We are calling all users of electricity in the South East and particularly SEECA members in the south east to appear in solidarity at the court on the said date, 26th September, 2024 at 8am prompt. There must be light in the South East of Nigeria.
“We are peaceful and law abiding citizens of the Nigerian associating for our common good,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the SEECA is being sued by the EEDC for demanding “Prepaid meters for electricity consumers in the five South East States, so that we can correctly measure, calculate and manage the electricity we are using. This will also stop the arbitrary, outrageous and estimated electricity bills that EEDC and Aba Power Ltd – Geometric are issuing to consumers of electricity in the South East monthly.
According to a report in July, by the Nation newspaper, a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu refused to grant the order seeking to stop the SEECA from interfering in the affairs of the EEDC.
The EEDC through its counsel, O.O Agbo, had dragged some members of SEECA to court seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop the members from inciting other consumers against it. Also joined in the suit is the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
While praying the court to grant the injunction, counsel to EEDC, Agbo told the court that the defendants through their platform were asking people in the Southeast not to pay their electricity bills.
Agbo said they were not sure of the next step the defendants would take, alleging that the defendants were harassing his client.
But counsel to the SEECA, Frank Obiakor, argued that some of the defenders were not served, a development that forced Agbo to apply for withdrawal of the 1st and 5th defendants.
However, after listening to the motion on notice and counter affidavit of the counsels, Justice M.J. Umar refused to grant the injunction and adjourned the matter to 26th September, 22024.
A.I
Sept. 16, 2024
Tags: EEDC. Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Frank Obiakor Justice M.J. Umar Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha SEECA Southeast Electricity Consumers Association
