The Taraba State High Court, in Jalingo, the state capital, on Friday mandated the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC, to pay damages amounting to N800,000.
This was in response to the illegal disconnection of electricity to Dr Atando Dauda Agbu, the plaintiff who is a faculty member at the Taraba State University in Jalingo.
The court case, Suit No. TRSJ/111/2023, was filed by Dr Agbu against YEDC, its Business Manager of Jalingo II YEDC, and Mr Paul Isaiah of YEDC.
The plaintiff sought a declaration from the court, asserting that the abrupt disconnection of electricity to his residence in Taraba State University Quarters, Jalingo, without prior notice, was unlawful.
In his affidavit, the plaintiff informed the court that he had reported abnormal readings in his prepaid electricity meter in December 2021 but received no resolution from the defendants.
Despite applying for a new meter in June 2023, and despite being current in bill payments, the electricity supply to his residence was disconnected by the defendants without statutory mandatory notice, the plaintiff claimed.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Nuhu Adi, ruled in favour of the plaintiff, declaring the disconnection on August 7, 2023, as unlawful.
The court awarded damages of N600,000 against the defendants and ordered the immediate reconnection of Dr. Agbu’s electricity supply.
Additionally, the defendants were directed not to disconnect the supply without due process in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
The court also awarded costs of N200,000 in favour of the plaintiff.
