A businessman, Jerry Okolo, has instituted a suit against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) at an FCT High Court in Gudu over an alleged illegal billing.

The suit, which was instituted by Mr. Okolo along with his landlord, Abimaje Ebute, as co-claimant against the AEDC, is over alleged illegal billing.

In their relief, are demanding the sum of N10 million as general damages for the alleged illegal and unlawful actions of the defendant. 

The claimants are also praying for N5 million as damages for inconveniences and losses incurred by them.

In addition, they are seeking the payment of N500,000 as the cost of prosecuting the suit. 

When the matter, which was slated for a report of settlement before Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi came up on Wednesday, the claimants’ counsel, Frank Nnaba, informed the court that the parties were discussing the possibility of settlement, but were yet to conclude.

He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment to enable the parties enough time to conclude on the terms of a settlement.

On his part, the defence counsel, Ifeanyi Aborgu, aligned with the submission of Mr. Nnaba. 

Accordingly, the judge adjourned the matter until April 27, for the report of settlement or hearing in the event that the parties do not reach an agreement.

In the claimants’ statement of claim, it was alleged that the defendant had been sending an estimated electricity bill to the house located at FHA, Lugbe, Abuja since 2014, although the house was hardly occupied since 2018 when Mr. Okolo was transferred out of Abuja.

According to the claim, Mr. Okolo said he wrote to the defendant that the estimated billing should be stopped and a pre-paid meter installed, but it was never done.

In addition, he alleged that although he comes to the house on a quarterly basis, the bills kept coming and the AEDC charged the sum of N23,814.39 in one of the months he was away.

He said the electricity supply to the house was disconnected in August 2019 after months of non-payment from him.

Mr. Okolo affirmed in the claim that he paid the sum of N5,000 as reconnection fee and on December 24, 2019, a pre-paid meter was finally installed.

He added that by then, the defendant said he was indebted to them to the sum of N171,000.00, which was the accumulated bills for the period he was disconnected from electricity supply.

In furtherance to the alleged indebtedness, Mr. Okolo said every time he made purchases of electricity token from the defendant, 60 percent of the amount is deducted by way of payment for the alleged N171,000 debt.

He said it was this continual deduction that necessitated the suit and damages he incurred when his things got destroyed due to the disconnection while he was away.