A collection of civil society groups in Ebonyi State, spearheaded by the Human Rights Volunteer Corps, has announced plans to sue the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. This decision stems from widespread accusations regarding unfair billing, unexpected power cuts, and various service irregularities facing local residents.
During a media gathering in Abakaliki, Professor Joseph Agbo, who leads the coalition, stated that previous attempts to settle these grievances through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice have proven futile. The group is now looking to the legal system to secure justice for impacted residents.
The coalition, which includes organizations like the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and the Good Living Initiative, pointed to specific problems such as estimated billing, unauthorized arrears added to prepaid accounts, and staff members allegedly demanding payments via personal POS terminals. They have formally requested that the state government and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission launch a thorough investigation into these business practices.
In response, a representative for the Eastland Electricity Distribution Limited, a subsidiary of the EEDC, stated that the company operates according to established regulatory guidelines. Ezeagu noted that the firm has already performed significant billing reconciliations to fix past errors. The company maintains that all consumer complaints should be directed through their official channels for proper review and resolution.
