Court jails Enugu Disco’s managers three months over crazy bills

An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha on Tuesday jailed
the Manager and Marketing Manager of the Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company Onitsha district for three months over crazy
bills.

The duo were dragged to court by the leaders of the Iweka
Electronic Amalgamated Traders Association, Onitsha for
disconnecting their electricity supply after the company had given
N2m estimated bill to the traders.

The traders rejected the bill and sued the
defendants/respondents over the defendants attempt to force the
traders to pay disputed electricity bills.

After oral submissions of both counsel on May 23, 2016, the
court made an interim order of injunction wherein parties were
asked to maintain status quo.

It was gathered that despite the pendency of the interim order,
the EEDC officials went and disconnected the traders’ lines.

Delivering judgment against the EEDC managers in the contempt
proceedings filed by the plaintiffs’/applicants’ counsel Hon.Austin
Enendu, His Lordship Hon. Justice Ike Ogu described the EEDC
managers act as crass of impunity.

He convicted the duo for three months without the option of fine
for their actions.

The Judge said the defendant should have obeyed the court order
pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The judge said, “You are hereby committed to prison for three
months until you purged yourselves of the contempt.”

The development erupted jubilation at the Iweka Electronic
market as the traders went to streets singing and dancing.

The Chairman of the market, Mr. Ndubuisi Egotanwa in his
reaction commended the court for giving the ruling.

Egotanwa said the EEDC workers had wielded so much powers in the
area and “thought that no person, group of persons or even the
court cannot stop them from their illegal disconnection and crazy
bills” as well as their flagrant disobedience of a subsisting order
of court

An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha on Tuesday jailed
the Manager and Marketing Manager of the Enugu Electricity
Distribution Company Onitsha district for three months over crazy
bills.

The duo were dragged to court by the leaders of the Iweka
Electronic Amalgamated Traders Association, Onitsha for
disconnecting their electricity supply after the company had given
N2m estimated bill to the traders.

The traders rejected the bill and sued the
defendants/respondents over the defendants attempt to force the
traders to pay disputed electricity bills.

After oral submissions of both counsel on May 23, 2016, the
court made an interim order of injunction wherein parties were
asked to maintain status quo.

It was gathered that despite the pendency of the interim order,
the EEDC officials went and disconnected the traders’ lines.

Delivering judgment against the EEDC managers in the contempt
proceedings filed by the plaintiffs’/applicants’ counsel Hon.Austin
Enendu, His Lordship Hon. Justice Ike Ogu described the EEDC
managers act as crass of impunity.

He convicted the duo for three months without the option of fine
for their actions.

The Judge said the defendant should have obeyed the court order
pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The judge said, “You are hereby committed to prison for three
months until you purged yourselves of the contempt.”

The development erupted jubilation at the Iweka Electronic
market as the traders went to streets singing and dancing.

The Chairman of the market, Mr. Ndubuisi Egotanwa in his
reaction commended the court for giving the ruling.

Egotanwa said the EEDC workers had wielded so much powers in the
area and “thought that no person, group of persons or even the
court cannot stop them from their illegal disconnection and crazy
bills” as well as their flagrant disobedience of a subsisting order
of court