By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
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 allegedly tempered 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 prescribed.
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 given notice before invading his company and disconnecting it from public power supply on the suspicion of meter bypass.
“I was not around when they came, they didn’t call me and none of my representatives were there when they visited, and I left my meter intact before I went out”.
He maintained that the company had trampled on his rights to privacy as a Nigerian and as a loyal customer of the KAEDCO therefore prayed NERC panel to compel KAEDCO to restore his power supply and to pay him damages for all the months he spent without operating his water factory. He also prayed to withdraw the outrageous N400,000, which he described as incorrect bill.
He posited that the huge bill was issued on March 13, 2025, while the inspection notice was issued to him on April 14, 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 panel had agreed the customer did bypass, he has the right to claim damages over illegal invasion of his premises without notice or permission.