The Association of Electricity Consumers of Nigeria (ECAN), South East zone, has warned against the “ongoing attempt by a few persons to mislead electricity customers in the Aba Ring-fenced Area (ARFA) comprising nine of the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in Abia State over regular bill payment.
Engr Joe Ubani and Comrade Chris Okpara, the ECAN zonal chairman and secretary, respectively, said in a statement released on Sunday, that some individuals are advising some customers of Aba Power, which provides electricity to the nine LGAs, not to pay their outstanding bills following the recent tariff review in the area by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Though these elements have since January been encouraging debtor customers not to pay, according to the ECAN leaders, “they increased the tempo of their activity since Tuesday when they furtively obtained an ex parte motion from Abia State High Court, restraining Aba Power from disconnecting recalcitrant customers owing the utility”.
Justice Enyinnaya Okezie of the Abia State High Court granted the protesting group led by one Opigwe an ex parte motion against disconnecting debtor customers. They claimed that Aba Power was not put on notice before the order was given.
ECAN stated that though the interim motion will most likely be vacated within days, “Nigerian legal experts are surprised that it was given at all’.
Hinting that the order may be reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC) which disciplines erring judicial officers, the Electricity Consumers Association noted: “Both the higher courts and the National Judicial Council (NJC) have warned on occasion against liberal granting of ex parte orders and have at different times taken punitive actions against judicial officers who gave them.
“Such directives are given in extreme circumstances, but legal experts cannot see the emergency that could warrant the step by the court in Isiala Ngwa”.
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ECAN also argued that a State High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a case involving a federal agency like NERC when the Federal High Court which now exists in every state is statutorily empowered to handle such matters.
It faulted those encouraging customers not to pay their bills now following the order because they “are in grave error.
“By their nature, ex parte motions do not last beyond a few days, so the customers will soon be confronted with the reality of inevitable bill payment. They may not be able to pay their bills if they delay payment now.
‘Frankly, those advising them not to pay are actually their enemies because they are misleading the innocent customers”.
NERC increased the tariff for Band A customers, those who receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily, last April 4, but delayed that of Aba Power till January 1, 2025, even though Aba Power is the only electricity distribution company in Nigeria that has not received Federal Government subsidy since the privatization of the electricity business in the country in November 2013.
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said that the Federal Government is studying the Geometric Power model with a view to replicating it in other parts of the country.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
Business values should be qualified and accurately measured, metering customers shybe the priority of Aba Power Limited because the capped billing method is fraudulent in every ramifications, expecting an unmetered consumers to pay 103,000 in month is killing although some customers can spend more than that amount monthly. The refund for prepaid meters in over ten years is equally uncharitable to consumers.
APL is not the cause of these problems, NERC is, but APL being the only DISCO that is also a GENCO can afford cheaper tariffs