Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) claims to have appealed a Lagos High Court judgment for its N1 million fine.
The Electricity Distribution Company was recently fined for disconnecting a consumer over unpaid bill by former occupant of the building.
Justice Ibidun Harrison of Igbosere High Court described EKEDC’s obstinacy to connect the customer as “unlawful”.
The claimant, Sunday Babalola, had sued EKEDC for the refusal to connect his building to electricity over an outstanding bill owed EKEDC by a former occupant of the building.
In the company’s defense, EKEDC Spokesman, Godwin Idemudia, said EKEDC appealled the judgment on the premise that it was inconsistent with the industry regulations.
According to him, EKEDC has the right to demand for outstanding payments before reconnection in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Connection and Disconnection Procedure for Electricity Services, 2007.
“The claimant on purchase of the property situated at 7B Brown Road, Surulere, in July 2019, failed to carry out due diligence on the existing outstanding bill on the property.
“When Babalola approached EKEDC for reconnection to our infrastructure, we told him that there is an outstanding bill left unpaid by the previous owner of the property before he secretly sold the property to the claimant without any recourse or notice to us,” he said.
Idemudia said that the company had always carried out its operation within regulatory framework and industry guideline.
He said that EKEDC was, therefore, confident that the judgment would be overturned at the appellate court.
Idemudia concluded by reassuring EKEDC customers within its network, that the company was deeply committed to improved service delivery.
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