- The Supreme Court ordered ECN to pay ₦157 million plus 10% annual interest to two firms.
- Eight months after the Attorney-General’s directive, the commission has yet to comply.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria’s (ECN) judgment debt issue continues to draw attention. The ECN still owes ₦157 million to PSC Industries Limited and OGB-Tech Nigeria Limited. It has been eight months since the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), ordered the commission to pay.
The debt resulted from solar energy contracts awarded to both firms. They completed their projects but were not paid. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ruled against ECN on June 7, 2024. The court directed the commission to pay ₦157,035,350 plus 10 per cent annual interest from November 5, 2018, until complete payment.
In March 2025, the AGF instructed ECN to settle the debt immediately. Yet, the commission ignored the order. The two firms, represented by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) & Partners, reminded the AGF of the judgment in a letter dated February 4, 2025. They also sought approval to garnish the ECN’s bank accounts to recover the ECN judgment debt.
After receiving their letter, the Federal Ministry of Justice reaffirmed that ECN should resolve the matter peacefully. The advice came through the Director of Civil Litigation, Mrs Maimuna Lami Shiru. Despite this, ECN has remained silent. As a result, the judgment creditors have threatened to take further legal steps to enforce payment.
The case dates back several years. ECN had refused to pay for completed solar projects. PSC managed the Jarkum and Agoloma projects, while OGB-Tech handled Obokun and Batagarawa. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruled in favour of both firms in November 2018.
ECN appealed the decision but lost at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The apex court dismissed the appeal as lacking merit and fined ECN ₦500,000 for wasting judicial time.
Despite these rulings and the AGF’s directive, ECN’s failure to comply has raised serious questions about accountability in government institutions. Observers now await the next move to enforce the judgment and ensure justice for the two firms.