Civil Rights Lawyer Femi Falana SAN is set to sue IKEDC and MRA for misrepresentation of some clients resident in Magodo.
The Association went into an agreement with Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), to pay almost double the tariff in return for 24 hour power supply to the estate in Lagos.
Some residence of the estate claim they are being forced into paying double tariff for 24 hours electricity supply under the premium power agreement PPA.
Ikeja Electric and the Magodo Resident Association recently signed a Power Purchase Agreement under the Willing Buyer, Willing Seller initiative issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC where in the management of IKEDC said due process was followed in accordance with the constitution of the Association, a legal entity registered under the law, in executing the contract.
The agreement allows for residence of Magodo to now pay N50 from N22 which it paid before the agreement was reached.
In a letter From Falana Chambers to IKEDC, the law firm pointed out that “Our client is one of the prepaid meters consumer residents of Magodo Estate, Lagos. Our client pays electricity bills promptly and regularly without defaulting. Our client drew our attention to the purported agreement to increase electricity tariff in Magodo Estate, between Magodo Residents Association (MRA) AND Ikeja electric currently making the news in the media. Our client’s position is that he was never consulted by the Magodo Residents Association (MRA) or any person or group for any electricity tariff agreement whatsoever. Neither did he instruct, discuss or commission the Magodo Residents Association (MRA) or any person or group of persons to enter into any electricity tariff agreement with Ikeja, on his behalf. Our client: further maintains that electricity bill, being a utility consumption is personal to him and if there is any agreement on it, it should be between him being the consumer and the electricity company directly and not through any third party of whatever guise.
In a swift reaction, however, The representative from IKEDC, Mr Felix Ofulue, refuted what he terms simple allegations, insisting, the Distribution Company made consultations with Magodo Residence Association and an agreement was reached before the price change increments where made.
According to him MRA is currently enjoying 24hours light to the estate in the last 1 week without fail saying there is Nothing fraudulent about the transaction.
“We intend to roll out more estates on this new premium plan he said”.
