Lagos magistrate court sitting in Apapa magisterial district has adjourned the suit challenging the alleged arbitrary billings by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to November 5.
Traditional ruler of Otumara community in Lagos Mainland of Lagos State, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, had dragged the EKEDC before the court over allegations of arbitrary electricity billing amounting to millions of naira served on his residence and the latter’s non-issuance of prepaid metre to him since 2018.
In suit No: MCA/1816/CIV/2024, Kalejaiye through his counsel, M.O Sanusi also challenged the disconnection of electricity supply to his residence since January, 2024.
He prayed for an order of mandatory injunction directing the defendant to restore and reconnect electricity to the claimant’s residence pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
He also asked for an order restraining the EKEDC from disconnecting the claimant’s property pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory injunction and for such further orders as this honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
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However, absence of the defendant at the resumed hearing on September 25, 2024, stalled proceedings as the EKEDC failed to honour the court summon served on it by the court sheriff.
Consequently, counsel to the claimant, Sanusi told the court, “The sheriff told me that the defendant didn’t respond to the court summons. I therefore appeal to your honour for a further date for them to respond.”
Meanwhile, Kalejaiye has lamented the failure of the defendant to comply with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Order on the issuance of prepaid meter to electricity consumers.
He stated: “On the 13rd of February, 2018, I applied to the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Company in Marina requesting for a prepaid metre but to my dismay, for several years, I got no response from them while they continue to serve my residence outrageous monthly bill.
“Consequent to this, I wrote several letters complaining about these exploitative tendencies yet nothing was achieved. They continue with this trend without making available the prepaid metre I had applied for. Despite this, I ensure that I pay a monthly electricity bill which in my estimation corresponds to the electricity consumed. It however came to me as a surprise when officials of the EKEDC without any prior notice disconnected my residence in spite of regular payment of my monthly electricity consumption.”