(By Dennis Kakaba and Zare Baba)
For frivolous and illegal disconnection of customers by YEDC,a High Court sitting in Jalingo and presided over by Justice Nuhu Adi has slammed the Yola Electricity Distribution Company with the sum of N800,000 to Dr Atando Dauda Agbu of the Taraba State University, Jalingo as general damages for illegally disconnecting his residence despite meeting his obligations to the company.
In suit N0: TRSJ/111/2023 between Dr Atando Dauda Agbu, vs. Yola Electricity Distribution Company, Business Manager, Jalingo II YEDC, and Mr Paul Isaiah YEDC, office of the MD/CEO, as defendants, the plaintiff sought the declaration of the court to the effect that the disconnection of his residence at N0. 488, TSU Quarters, without his prior notice was unlawful.
The plaintiff, in an affidavit, informed the court in December 2021of an abnormal reading in his prepaid electricity metre, NO. 04231835127, and promptly lodged a formal complaint in respect of the abnormality and malfunctioning of the prepaid metre at his residence, but the defendants refused to rectify the faults.
After endless waiting, he applied for the supply of a new electricity metre for his residence on the 30th June,2023 and followed up on his application with reminders, but to no avail.
While painstakingly waiting on the third defendant to serve him with a new prepaid meter,YEDC instead disconnected the electricity supply at his residence without prior statutory mandatory notice.
The plaintiff then sought the declaration of the court that the disconnection of the electricity supply to his residence by the defendants on the 7th day of August 2023 without notice, despite his up-to-date in the payment of bills was unlawful and amounts to breach of contractual obligations on the side of YEDC.
Other reliefs sought by the plaintiff include an order of the Court directing the defendants jointly and severally to pay the sum of One Million, Seventy-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Naira (N1,072,160) only as expenses incurred as a result of the unlawful disconnection and the cost of ventilating the grievances before the Court, and the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000.00) only as general damages in favour of the plaintiff.
Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Nuhu Adi resolved all issues in the favour of the plaintiffs and granted their reliefs.
The court held that “the disconnection of the electricity light or supply by the defendants on 7/8/2023 to the premises of the plaintiff without notice to the plaintiff was unlawful.
“The sum of Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N600,000) damages is awarded against the defendants jointly and severally in favour of the plaintiff.
“The defendants shall immediately reconnect the plaintiff’s electricity supply or light and shall not disconnect the same without due process in accordance with existing laws and regulations applicable to the defendants’ business concerns.
The cost of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) is awarded against the defendants jointly and severally in favour of the plaintiff,” the court ruled.
It will be recalled that YEDC have had several confrontational issues with customers across their areas of distribution.
Staff and management face-up due to mass Sack as well as management’s high-handedness were reported penultimate week.
A statement by the management of the company through the Media Unit however denied the allegations.
__________________________________________
We do hope that the information we were able to provide you is helpful. Check out other unique articles on our blog for more detailed information, and do well to share with your friends and family. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated with premium details.
Please leave any comments or questions in the area given below.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The New Herald are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The New Herald. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.
Information is presented to the best of our knowledge, and while we endeavor to keep the information up-to-date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability concerning the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Therefore, any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.
Extra: Be sure to consistently check https://newherald.ng/ for an abundance of valuable resources, including tips, news, and updates, to stay informed and enhance your expertise in the field
