Hearing in protest on estimated billing, failure to provide prepaid metres by EEDC slated for March

ONITSHA, Anambra –  Case between Enugu Electricity Distribution  Company EEDC and    the Convener  / Coordinator of Recover Nigeria Project , Comrade Osita Obi,Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University ,Awka  Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh and others at the Federal High Court two Awka, Anambra state resumes on  16th March 2022.

The new date followed the first defendant comrade  Osita Obi’s  change of counsel and successful transfer of the case from Federal High Court Abuja to Federal High Court Awka Anambra state.

Following the completion of the process ,the presiding judge, justice Nnamdi Dimgba  issued  an order directing all parties   to appear on 16th March for the continue  hearing of the case .

EEDC  in a suit number : FHC/ABJ/476/2019 dragged   Osita Obi , ASUU  chairman Unizik , the National Director of Sports of National Association of Nigerian Students NANS zone B, Awka chapter Comrade Chiedozie Ojiaku to Abuja High Court now transferred to Federal  High Court two Awka for calling out people to protest against the estimated billing, none provision of pre paid meter and poor service and others by the company .

The plaintiff in the suit claimed that the call by the defendants to stage a protest /walk and occupy the office of the plaintiff at Awka  Anambra state until the plaintiff provides pre- paid meter , to stop estimated bill to all customers and to occupy business premises in Awka Anambra state was unlawful ultra vires  and against the provision of the electric power sector reform Act No 6 of 2005.

The plaintiff also prayed for  a declaration that arranging to occupy the business office of the plaintiffs for none provision of pre- paid meter , excess or estimated bills amounts to interference with and disruption of the business of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff also is  claiming  N100million damage   for unlawful interference with the plaintiff business. Other joined in the suit include Inspector General of Police ,Commissioner of Police Anambra state and the Director Department of State Service DSS Anambra state .

However, the first defendant had  opposed the suit originating in Abuja stating that appropriate place to institute the case should either be Federal High Court Awka or in the high court of the state.

After due consideration  the case was transferred to federal high court two for continuation of hearing . Recover Nigeria project, a civil society organisation had proposed protest tagged “Awka electricity walk ” designed to compel EEDC to provide pre -paid metres to consumers in the Awka city to  be held at Ekwueme park Awka.

The convener had  invited consumers to walk for meter ,walk for stoppage of  estimated billing , walk for greater electricity supply in Awka and walk to end extortion  and explosion by EEDC. Meanwhile, G.S.Okereke has taken up case file as the new counsel to the defendant Comrade Osita Obi .