By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has halted the planned increase in the electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulations Commission NERC.
This is even as Justice Yusuf Ubale Muhammad of the kano State High Court on Friday May 3, restrained the Inspector General of Police IGP ,from arresting and or harassing the All Progressive Congress APC Ganduje ward Executives in Dawakin Tofa Local Council of Kano ,alleged to be behind the purported suspension of the party’s National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje early April.
Justice A M Liman of the Kano Division of the Federal High Court , while ruling on an ex parte motion brought by A B Mahmud, SAN, Counsel to Super Sack Limited , Mama Sannu Industries Limited and others under the aegis of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN on Thursday, restrained the NERC and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company KEDCO from implementing the new electricity tariff regime within the respondents’ area of coverage pending the hearing and determination the motion on notice filed by the applicants .
The Presiding Judge ,also restrained the respondents from harassing ,intimidating and or disconnecting its services to the applicants over their refusal to accept the new electricity tariff.
The Source reports that the country’s electricity regulatory body had early April rolled out a new tariff regime ,premised on bands classifications for consumers.
According to the classification range, those on band A ,the apex class with a daily electricity supply of up to 20 hours will be paying 225 per kw, while N66 per kw,will be paid by those on the lowest rung of the ladder.
The new electricity tariff regime ,has however drawn more than enough flakes from apprehensive Nigerians since it was announced, with not a few calling for its suspension.
Ruling on an ex parte motion jointly instituted by Jafar Adamu and 10 others ,and Haladu Gwanjo led factional APC Ganduje Ward Executives seeking an enforcement and protection of their fundamental human rights ,Justice Muhammad also restrained the APC National Working Committee NWC ,and the Acting National Chairman ,Dr Ganduje from using security personnel to arrest ,and or detain the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit .
The applicants in the motion on notice filed on April 29, are challenging the power of the respondents, particularly the IGP, AIG Zone 1 Kano, the Kano Commissioner of Police,the APC NWC ,the Kano state chapter of APC and the National Chairman to invite , arrest and ,harass them ( applicants ).
“After hearing Shamsu Ubale Jibrin ,Counsel to the two sets of applicants today 2nd May ,2024 ,it is hereby ordered as follows ….
An interim order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents in the two consolidated suits,their officers ,agents, privies or any other officers serving under them from inviting ,arresting ,harassing or detaining,the applicants in respect of the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion notice already filed .
“It is further ordered that the interim order for the motion on notice ,and all other processes in this suit shall be served on all respondents, simultaneously and before the next adjourned date. The case is adjourned to 5th June 2024 for hearing of the motion on notice ” Justice Muhammad ruled .
