Court asks IKEDC, NERC to reverse tariff hike

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained Ikeja Electric Plc and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission from applying, administering and/or implementing the purported tariff stipulated in the April 2024 Supplementary Order on Tariff Increase On “Bank A” Feeders.

The court, in a ruling on Tuesday, held that the tariff comprised those published by Ikeja Electric on April 4 and/or the May 2024 Supplementary Order On Tariff Increase On “Band A” published on May 6, on a firm, Rida National Plastics Limited.

Justice Chukwujeku Aneke made the interim injunction after hearing an ex parte application filed by Rida National Plastics’ lawyer, Dr Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) with F. Giwa Esq and I. Aderibigbe Esq.

The judge ruled that the order subsisted pending IKEDC and NERC’s full compliance with Section 51 of the Electricity Act, 2023 and the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Rida National Plastics is the plaintiff/applicant while Ikeja Electric PLC and NERC are the 1st and 2nd defendants/respondent in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1051/2024.

Justice Aneke also temporarily restrained the 1st & 2nd defendants from imposing the payment of the sum of N20m on the plaintiff, being the balance payable on the purported electricity bill dated May 4, 2024, calculated based on the April 2024 Supplementary Order on Tariff Increase on “Band A” Feeders and/or the May 2024 Supplementary Order On Tariff Increase on “Band A”.

Also, the interim injunction restrained IKEDC and NERC “from intimidating and threatening to disconnect or actually disconnecting” Rida National Plastics’ electricity supply for non-compliance with the purported tariff.

He adjourned the suit till July 9, 2024, for hearing of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with the instant ex-parte application.

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