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, Justice Ike Obu 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”.
