10 June 2015 Lagos – Following the adjournment of the case filed against the Eko Electrical Distribution Company (EKEDC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over years of outrageous electricity bills, residents of Itire-Ikate in Surulere and Mushin communities in Lagos State have resolved not to give up in pursuit for justice and fairness.
The residents, who were at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for the hearing on June 4, explained that although the accused brought a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to represent them, thereby intimidating them, they were determined to get justice.
According to the community leader, Mr. Azeem Owe, who spoke to THISDAY at the court premises, “That they brought a SAN doesn’t scare us. We will not give up because we have been patient for so long, and we have been in darkness without power for many years. We will get justice at last.”
According to Owe, who is also an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, “For you to hire a SAN, you will pay several millions of naira. That millions can get hundreds of pre-paid meters. They are trying to make things difficult, but I know we are going to triumph in the end.”
The community is also protesting against the non-reading of electricity consumption meters, adjustment of previous non-used consumption balance (during the road construction) and inadequate or no power supply for quite a long time.
However, the counsel to the plaintiff, Marcus Eyarhomo, told THISDAY: “We were expecting the defence of the defendants before now, but unfortunately, none of them has filed any defence and we to the court that today.”
He added that the counsel for the first defendant said their processes were being filed at the registry for a date, adding that: “So, we are waiting for the processes.”
Meanwhile, the second lawyer to the plaintiffs, Odubanjo Solomon, said they were expecting the defendants to file their papers because they told the court they were in the process of filing their papers.
According to him, “We are still expecting them to serve us then we will know what and how to respond.”
The case has been adjourned to October 7 this year due to court vacation from July to September, being the reason given for long adjournment.
– This Dat
