Man Drags IBEDC To Court, Demands N149m Damages

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has been dragged before the federal high court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for causing one Mr. Metiko Edward Adebowale (Achievers Oil Mills) to lose millions of naira in his business.

The claimant, Adebowale, in his deposition on oath before Justice Peter Lifu, stated that he had incurred unbearable debts and has lost customers both in Nigeria and outside Nigeria due to failure of IBEDC to relocate the transformer he bought to his company.

He said despite the order of a panel set up by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Ibadan, that IBEDC should relocate the transformer not later than September 2018, and several letters written by lawyers, the defendant refused to relocate the transformer, thus preventing him from producing.

He, however, sought an order of the court compelling the defendants to pay the sum of N28million for the raw material bought for production of palm kernel oil and palm kernel came for the month of July 2018 to January 2019 which has spoilt as a result of non production.

He sought an order of the court, compelling the defendants to pay the sum of N106million for the sales of July to November 2018.

The claimant also sought an order of the court, compelling the defendants to pay the sum of N12.529million for several meetings held with engineers and foreign customers which include hotel bills, transportation and project plan.

Also sought by the claimant is the order, compelling the defendants to pay the sum of N3.440million for professional fees of lawyer, legal letters, filing fees and cost of maintaining the suit.

He said, “I am under severe hardship, fear, humiliation, arrest and untold frustration by my creditors as a result of failure to relocate the transformer to the new site for over three months despite my letters to the 1st defendant and the judgment of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Ibadan.

The defendants are IBEDC Plc, Akin Ogunleye (Regional Head, IBEDC, Osogbo), Engr Akin Abiodun (Regional Technical Manager of IBEDC, Osogbo), Engr Sulaiman Busari (Business Hub Commercial Manager, Ede) and Engr T. E. Olugbeja (Technical Manager, Ede).

Justice Lifu thereby adjourned the matter till March 3, 2021 for further hearing.