Lagos Court Bars NERC from Increasing Tarrif

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) has lost its bid to stay further proceedings in its suit challenging the hike in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Distribution Companies, DISCOs.

In a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, NERC was refused an application on Tuesday seeking to challenge the hike.

The suit, which was instituted by Toluwani Adebiyi, came subsequent to the court’s restraining of parties involved to maintain status-quo.

In spite of the subsisting order, NERC and DISCOs, had on February 1, 2016, made the decision to hike tariff in electricity..

Justice Idris had in one of the rulings barred NERC from implementing any upward review in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

He said, “It is clear that the applicant has an application before the court seeking for an extension of time to compile and transmit its record at the Appeal Court. “There is also another motion for leave to rely on the same record of appeal in this present appeal. However, there is no indication that the application has been listed on the cause list or that it had been heard or adjourned for hearing.”

“In the circumstance, this court cannot grant a stay of proceedings on an incompetent appeal which is awaiting regularisation at the Appeal Court. On the whole, the application lacks merit and is dismissed accordingly,” the judge said. The court also awarded N10,000 cost in favour of the plaintiff. After the ruling, there were arguments among parties in the matter on which application should be taken by the court.”