EditorThe Ondo State Government says it has sued the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for failing to energise at least 33 transformers and depriving the affected communities of electricity supply.
The suit which was filed through the office of the Attorney General of the state is being facilitated by the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (SERB).
The State had imposed a fine of N113,025,000 on the BEDC for failure to energise the transformers as well as a penalty of N25,000 per day for a period of 57 days.
The 25 days covered the period between December 9, 2021 and February 4, 2022, the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice said.
The Ondo State Government is also seeking daily payment of N25,000 by the BEDC, beginning from February 5, 2022, until the BEDC complies with the December 9, 2021 written directive of the SERB to energise the 33 listed transformers.
The office of Attorney General of Ondo State in the suit asked the Court to issue an Order for the sealing of BEDC’s business premises, electrical power stations and ancillary facilities within Ondo State pending the payment of the fines/penalties imposed it.
Attorney General of Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye, through his Special Adviser Kola Adeniyi, noted that the action was to protect the consumer rights of citizens from what he described as ‘’the unending exploitation by BEDC and ripping off of the people, without supplying power.’’
He noted that ‘’by virtue of part VIII Section 3(c) of Ondo State Electric Power sector Law 2020, any company which wilfully fails to connect a transformer after certification by National Electricity Management Services Agency, commits an electricity infrastructure expansion sabotage and, therefore, liable to a fine of Two million Naira (N2,000,000) in the first instance and N25,000 per day while the infraction continues.’’
At the first hearing of the case on March 3, 2022, the Court noted that BEDC had just filed their defence/application and, therefore, adjourned the case to Wednesday March 26, 2022 to enable the Attorney General of Ondo State respond to the application of BEDC.
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