- Magistrate rules in favour of AEDC customer
- Magistrate orders immediate reconnection of customer
The Kogi state Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has handed down a jail term (with an option of fine) to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) staff. Chief Magistrate Tanko Muhammed ruled in favour of the plaintiff Mr Dennis Osanwuta for the illegal disconnection of supply to his home by Mr James Olayemi. Muhammed also ordered the immediate reconnection of Osanwuta’s electricity supply by the AEDC.
In 2020, Osanwuta had filed a lawsuit against Mr Olayemi and the Regional Manager AEDC, Lameed Obadaki, for illegal disconnection and damage to his property. He noted that his home was disconnected despite not having any payment arrears. In his lawsuit, Osanwuta cited Regulation 10(8) of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Connection and Disconnection Procedures of Electricity Services, 2007.
In his ruling, Muhammed ruled that Obadaki had no complicity in the matter. At the same time, he sentenced Olayemi for illegally disconnecting Mr Osanwuta contrary to the Connection and Disconnection Procedures, an offence punishable under Section 94 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005.
Muhammed ruled that the defendant did not follow the procedure for disconnection as provided for in the NERC regulation. ”In view of the evidence before me, the complainant was not given such an opportunity; therefore, the first defendant is guilty as charged. I hereby sentence him to six months’ imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine,” he said.