The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), one of the power distribution companies in the Republic of Nigeria, has been sued at a Niger State High Court by residents of Suleja Local Government over poor electricity supply in the area despite paying a huge amount as monthly electricity bills.
The Plaintiff accused AEDC of rendering poor services which is making life unbearable in the area.
In an affidavit sworn by Musa Abdullahi Esq, one of the residents of Suleja Local Government, on behalf of the residents of Dawaki, Mata Akawu, Suleja Club, Maje, Kwamba, Bakasi, Gangare Kwata, Chaza, Emir Palace, Hassan Dalatu, Church Road, Rafin Sanyi, Paolosa and Kwankwashe, it said the above-mentioned residents have been enjoying only four hours of electricity in the morning and four hours in the evening totalling eight hours out of the 24 hours they are supposed to enjoy electricity.
According to the affidavit, what is more upsetting is the fact that consumers are, sometimes, asked to provide funds for the repair of AEDC’s damaged transformers and other equipment.
The Plaintiff posed six questions for the defendant to respond to and sought nine reliefs from the court.
Among the reliefs the plaintiff is seeking is a declaration that the defendant, having failed in their basic duty of provision of power supply safely and reliably, without any tangible justification, the plaintiff is entitled to damages and compensation because the charges/rates are under the guise of bills are imposed by the defendant on the Plaintiff which the plaintiff pays.
An order directing the Defendant to pay Plaintiff (1) general damages to the tune of two hundred million Naira only (N200,000,000), an equivalent of US$474,384.40 for the wrongful, unjustifiable and unwarranted power interruption or refusal of the defendant to supply adequate electricity to the Plaintiff which act of the defendant has caused untold hardship on the Plaintiff Or (ii) in an alternative an Order directing six months free bill period for the Plaintiff as compensation for the all the period of unjustified power interruption.
Additionally, the Plaintiff is seeking an Order directing Defendant to always notify Plaintiff of any prolonged power outage exceeding four hours on any of their entire social media platforms be it newspaper or electronic media.
The Defendant have 30days to respond to the suit. No date has been communicated for mention at the time of report.
Below are the reliefs being sought by the Plaintiff
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com