The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on relevant authorities to respect court injunction in favor of current incumbent Board of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), to save the people of Delta State from Epileptic power supply going forward.
The National President, CDHR, Dr. Kehinde Taiga, made the call at a press briefing held in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend saying that the imbroglio has resulted in continued epileptic power supply being witnessed in major parts of the states that BEDC supply electricity.
The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc is in charge of distribution of electricity to Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.
The CDHR president hinted that investigations by the human rights group has revealed that the masses are suffering from the crisis that is going on in BEDC based on the wrong decision that was taken by BPE and NERC.
It would be recalled that The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), recently, announced the dissolution of the Board of Directors of BEDC and attempted to install it’s proteges while the federal high court sitting in Abuja on the 8th of July 2022 ordered that status quo ante be maintained in the matter since the court granted a motion of ex parte filled by the owners .
Hon justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court in the ruling sighted by our correspondent granted interim injunction restraining the defendants including BPE and NERC from altering the board composition of BEDC or allowing other persons to parade themselves as directors of the company or work in concert with any person or party to alter the board composition, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The CDHR alleged that BPE and NERC had failed to follow due process before using it’s stick on the board of BEDC and submitted that the raging crisis between the two parties can result in putting the masses of electricity consumers in the 4 southern states to untold hardship . And that the Bedc managing director Mrs Funke Osibodu should continue her constitutional duties as MD until the court determines the matter at stake .
The CDHR President, alleged that corruption, selfish interest with self angrandisement are at play in the whole episode, with a view to further frustrate the poor masses by creating crisis.
Dr Taiga , however appealed to the public not to resort to self help in the matter, just as he also warned the masses against giving recognition to any illegal board of BEDC in contradiction of the law establishing BEDC, pending the resolution of the matter at stake at the court .
