Lawyer, Customer Sue EEDC, ‘Hireling’ For Forceful And Illegal Power Cut, Assault

A lawyer, Ike Augustine, and Hon. Vitalis Opara have sued the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and one of its alleged hired thugs, Tochukwu, before an Owerri High Court over alleged assault, extortion, and oppressive practices.
In the suit, Augustine and one Hon. Vitalis Opara asked the court to declare EEDC’s disconnection of power supply to their residence as illegal and contrary to relevant laws guiding the company’s operations.
They accused EEDC of arbitrary tariff increases without due process, deploying the services of Tochukwu and other thugs to forcefully disconnect their building and other customers, as well as failing to provide prepaid meters.
The lawyer claimed he was brutally attacked by Tochukwu when he tried to stop the disconnection, leading to bodily injuries and damage to his phone and medicated eye glasses.
He said the entire neighborhood was thrown into darkness when EEDC disconnected supply from the transformer on January 17 without any notice to residents, many of whom had paid their individual bills.
The plaintiffs want N500 million damages for violation of their rights and the court to compel EEDC to provide meters, stop using touts for disconnection, and desist from further power cuts without following due process.
EEDC is yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The court is expected to hear arguments from both sides and possibly summon witnesses in determining liability for assault and regulatory breaches.
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