Lagos monarch drags EKEDC to court over electricity disconnection

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The traditional ruler of Otumara community in Lagos Mainland of Lagos, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, has dragged the Eko Electricity Distribution Company before a magistrate court in Lagos over what he termed as ‘crazy billings’ and the latter’s refusal to grant his request a prepaid metre at his residence since 2018.

In suit No: MCA/1816/CIV/2024 between the claimant, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, and the defendant, Eko Electricity Distribution Company dated July 30th, 2024, Kalejaiye through his counsel, M.O Sanusi alleged that the defendant issued estimated bills amounting to millions of naira to his residence without making available prepaid metre.

The suit was also instituted over the disconnection of electricity supply to his residence since January 2024.

While describing estimated billing regime by the defendant as arbitrary, unconscionable, and not in accordance with the extant law, Sanusi, asked for an order of mandatory injunction directing the defendant to restore and connect 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.

Also the claimant, Kalejaiye while lamenting his plight alleged that the defendant had failed to comply with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Order on the issuance of prepaid meter to electricity consumers.

He stated, “On the 13th of February, 2018, I wrote an application to General Manager, Corporate Communications, Eko Electricity Distribution Co. in Marina requesting for a prepaid metre but for several years, no positive response was heard from them.

Sequel to this, I wrote several reminders complaining about the exploitative nature of the estimated billing systems yet nothing was achieved. Only for them to serve my residence bills amid the epileptic electricity supply in my neighbourhood.

They continued 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 is commensurate to what I consume every month. It however came to me as a surprise when officials of the EKEDC without any prior notice disconnected my residence from electricity despite regular payment of my monthly electricity consumption.”

The Chief Magistrate Olanrewaju Olatunji adjourned the case to the 25th of September, 2024 for mention while ordering that the status quo be maintained.

“The defendant should be put on notice. Cased adjourned to the 25th day of September 2023 for mention,” the Magistrate ordered.

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