By Haruna Usman
BIRNIN-KEBBI 鈥 A journalist with equity FM Birnin Kebbi, Adamu Garba, on Thursday dragged Kebbi State branch of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KAEDCO, over what he described as illegal invasion of his water factory at Aliero Housing Estate in Birnin Kebbi by suspected staff of KAEDCO and the subsequent alleged tempering with his prepaid meter.
According to him, before their unauthorised visit to IBSAD water factory, his meter was sealed and never touched or tempered with but on getting to his factory his neighbours gave him a letter from those who allegedly tempered with his meter.
During the hearing of the case by National electricity regulations Commission (NERC), the Company, through their Defence Counsel, Barrister Bello, claimed that the law permits them to invade any premises provided they are suspecting a customer of bypassing his prepaid meter therefore what they did was in tandem with what their law prescribes.
Bello also tendered video evidence of the compromised meter which they believed was done with the permission of the customer.
In his defence, the defendant countered the Company saying that his meter could be tempered by their staff since he was not around during the inspection and he was not informed or giving notice before invading his Company and disconnected his Company from public power supply on the suspension of meter bypass.
鈥淚 was not around when they came, they didn鈥檛 call me and none of my representatives were there when they visited and I left my meter intact before I went out鈥.
He maintained that the Company had trampled on his rights to privacy as a Nigerian and as a loyal customer of the distribution Company therefore prayed NERC panel to compel KAEDCO to one restore his power supply and two to pay him damages for all the months he spent without operating his water factory, three to withdraw the outrageous four hundred thousand incorrect bill.
He posited that the huge bill was issued on March, the 13th,2025 , while the inspection notice was issued to him , April, the 14th,2025 which indicated gross inconsistency and a ploy to indict him.
However, the NERC panel who declined to speak to the press citing lack of permission from their head office could not give verdict but barrister Amina who joined the panel vie zoom contended that if the a panel had agreed the customer did bypass he has the right to claim damages over illegal invasion of his premises without notice or permission.
She further appealed for out court settlement as a way out to the problem, corroborating her submission during the session, the regional manager of KAEDCO, barrister Makinu urged the complainant to accept paying in instalments the four hundred thousand bill to enable them to reconnect him to continue his business which he declined saying accepting to pay in whatever arrangement means he agreed to meter bypass.
As of the time of filling this report, the regional manager barrister Makinu didn鈥檛 reply text message sent to him for his reaction.