THE Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has directed residents of Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area to serve a 14-day notice on the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and other defendants over the ongoing power outage in the area.
The order was given recently by Justice M. B. Usman following an ex-parte motion filed by the Okpoko community against EEDC and ten of its officials.
The court ruled that the ex-parte motion should be converted into a motion on notice, which will allow the defendants to respond to the allegations and requests made by the plaintiffs.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, counsel to the plaintiffs, E. G. Ogbatalu, explained that the court granted 14 days for the motion to be properly served on the defendants.
According to him, the initial ex-parte application and hearing notice had already been served on the defendants, but they failed to appear in court. He added that the motion on notice had now been filed in line with the court’s directive.
Those listed as respondents in the suit include EEDC and several of its officials such as the Ogbaru Business Manager, Engr. Onyebueke Nwokoroafor, as well as other staff members involved in electricity distribution in the area.
The plaintiffs in the case include Chief Dominic Ezebuenyi, Remigius Muoka, Chief Alphonsus Ufomba, and Mr. Exe Fear God, who are representing residents of Onyebarachi, G-Muoka, Starlight Agulu, Nneogidi Streets, and parts of Obodoukwu Road. The group represents 96 electricity customers connected to the Akpirikpo 3 transformer feeder at the Atani Water Works 11kV line.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to award ₦10 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged losses affecting their finances, health, safety, security, and overall quality of life.
In addition, the plaintiffs are seeking an order directing the immediate reconnection of electricity to their homes pending the determination of the substantive suit. They also want an interim injunction preventing the defendants from tampering with or disconnecting power supply to the affected customers.
In his affidavit, the first plaintiff, Chief Dominic Ezebuenyi, alleged that residents had repeatedly protested against what he described as excessive estimated electricity bills that exceeded their actual consumption.
