14th February, 2012
A panel constituted by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Monday began hearing a petition asking for the refund of electricity charges paid by members of Ocean Parade Towers Residents Association from 2008 to date.
The residents association through its counsel, Mr. David Eguma, accused the property manager- Central Realties, H.P.I. Africa Limited and Banana Island Property Owners- being first, second and third respondents of trading in electricity without licenses.
The petitioner is, therefore, seeking amongst others, a relief for refund of the monies collected from its members for the sale of electricity by the respondents from 2008 to date.
Giving an insight into a preliminary objection on behalf of its client, counsel to the third respondent- Banana Island Property Owners & Residents Association, Mr. Victor Obaro, said that the petition was an abuse of judicial process because of a subsisting ruling of a Lagos High Court as well as a pending appeal on the subject.
He, therefore, sought more time from the panel to file an amendment to his application.
Ocean Parade Towers is located on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, while HPI provides infrastructure services for Banana Island Property Owners and Residents Association.
The panel, while granting the plea for adjournment by Obaro, fixed a further hearing in the matter for 2 March 2012 when the preliminary objection will be heard.
Members of the panel include the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi; Commissioner Legal, Licensing and Enforcement, Dr. Steven Andzenge; and Commissioner, Market Competition and Rates, Mr. Eyo Ekpo.