The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to reverse the unlawful, unjust, and unreasonable increase in electricity tariff, and to probe the spending of public funds as ‘investments and bailouts’ to DisCos and GenCos since 2005.”
Joined in the suit as Respondents are the country’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading PLC.
The group’s action comes after NERC approval to Electricity Distribution Companies to increase tariffs.
The case, with suit number FHC/L/CS/99/2023 was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
SERAP told the court to “compel President Buhari to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate the spending of public funds as investments and bailouts to DisCos and GenCos since 2005.”
Nigerians have witnessed incessant electricity tariff hike since Buhari’s government resumed office in 2015 without an improved power supply.