The Ondo state Government has filed an action before Ondo State Revenue Court sitting at Ondo road, Akure against Benin Electricity Company (BEDC) for it’s failure to energise 33 transformers in Ondo state thereby depriving the affected communities power supply.
The state Government represented by Ondo state Electricity Regulatory Bureau (SERB) is claiming a total sum of one hundred and thirteen million, twenty five thousand Naira (N113,025,000) as fines and penalties imposed on BEDC for failure to energise the transformers and penalties of N25,000 per day for a period of 57 days (from 9th of December 2021 to 4th of February 2022.
The Government is seeking the payment of the sum of N25,000 daily by BEDC from 5th of February, 2022 until the company complies with the written directive of the SERB dated 9th of December, 2021 to energise the 33 transformers listed in the said directive.
The Government is also seeking for an Order of the Court sealing the Defendant business premises, electrical power stations and ancillary facilities within Ondo State pending the payment of the fines/penalties imposed on BEDC.
The Attorney General of Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye noted that the action was brought to protect the consumer rights of citizens of Ondo State from the unending exploitation by BEDC ripping off the people of funds without supply of power.
He noted that by virtue of part VIII Section 3(c) of Ondo State Electric Power sector Law 2020, any company which wilfully denies to connect a transformer after certification by National Electricity Management Services Agency commits an electricity infrastructure expansion sabotage infraction and liable to a fine of Two million Naira (N2,000,000) in the first instance and N25,000 per day while the infraction continues.
At the hearing of the case on Wednesday, the Court noted that BEDC just filed their defence/application this morning, the Court therefore adjourned the case to the 16th of March, 2022 to enable the Attorney General of Ondo State respond to the application of BEDC.