Legal Practictioner Urges Senate, Presidency to Intervene in Outrageous Increase in Electricity Tariff, MultiChoice Services

Paschal Emeka, Abuja | Posted June 24, 2024

The principal partner, Chinenye Chambers, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Amobi Nzelu Esq, who successfully did pro bono case for six Apo Traders/Youths murdered by the police in Abuja in 2005, has drawn the attention of the Presidency and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on what he described as unreasonable surge in electricity tariff and MultiChoice services.

Nzelu who addressed selected journalists in his chambers in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), frowned at the hike in electricity tariff and the MultiChoice per view television services in the country.

“On the 29rh day of May, I bought N100 thousand utility units and I was given 1466 units. When I came back from my journey on Wednesday the 19th of June, I decided to top up on what I had, I bought N50 thousand and I was given 225 units. When I interrogated the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) officials, they said that I was in Band A, which has been increased from N68 to N225 per unit and the question is: is it not in the same market that all we go?

“MultiChoice, (a company that offers a wide range of television products and services, including DStv, GOtv), was given
a court order to revert to their old charges and they have not done that.

“Formerly, premium was N19 thousand, and now it is N29 thousand. Apart from thar, if you want an extra view, you pay N42,500 monthly.”

“Is there nobody in charge of this country? Are the masses left at their own fate, that nobody can stand up and speak for them? Does this country not have a leader, that was elected, that individuals should come ino this country to do whatever they want to do?”

Describing the increase of electricity tariff from N68 to N225 as a crime, he stated categorically that it is humongous, he said that he was aware that everything about increase on the services were still being debated upon, just as he added that: “I learnt that when the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who later became the Minister for Power went to defend the increase in the National Assembly, he was advising us, if you are living in your house, wwitch off your television and light.”

Nzelu therefore asked: “As an employer of labour, is it because my house and office are in the same place, the reason why I should be paying above N500 thousand monthly to sustain the house and office.”

He warned against the danger of graveyard silence in the country in a democracy.

Noting with concern that there is an issue, if the people voted into power can neither defend the masses, nor speak on their behalf, Barr Amobi Nzelu says that Nigerians are in pains.

“You can’t buy a bag of rice, other food items are not affordable; fuel, diesel, among others are not also affordable and nobody is saying anything about it.”

Although Nzelu wouldn’t support the day when Nigerians would start to defend themselves to come, when they have people in authority, but he however continued to fault in its entirety, the extreme cost inflation in the country, saying that there is a need for those in authority to do something, before things get out of hand.

While hammering on the danger of disobeying court order by the MultiChoice Company, Amobi Nzelu informed that an appeal does not operate as a stay of execution in law, even as he reiterated the looming danger, if Nigerians would decide to help themselves.

He further reiterated the need for the Senate and the presidency to seriously intervene, for the interest of those who elected them into office.