A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) not to hike electricity tariffs as announced by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission pending the determination of a motion challenging it.

 

It was learnt on Tuesday that the Senate might summon the DisCos, Minister of Power Saleh Mamman; NERC Chairman James Momoh and other relevant stakeholders in the sector over the planned tariff hike.

 

The NERC on December 31 directed the DisCos to raise their rates by over 70 per cent to enable them have enough capital to pay for electricity distributed by them.

 

But following public outcry, NERC back-pedaled, promising that consultations with consumers and other stakeholders would be carried out to determine if or not the new rate would stand.

 

At the hearing of a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Human Rights Foundation against 15 respondents in the electricity industry, Justice Muslim Hassan ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission and the police not to allow rigging of any election, but ensure free, fair and credible electoral process.

 

He said those declared as winners must be the candidates that the people have chosen.

 

The President gave this charge yesterday when he received the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu and the IG of Police, Mohammed Adamu at the State House in Abuja.

 

President Buhari renewed his determination to give Nigeria an electoral system that meets best practices anywhere in the world.

 

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu was in the Villa to brief the President ahead of the conduct of 28 outstanding elections spread across 11 states of the Federation.

 

He spoke to newsmen after meeting with President Buhari.

On his part, the IG of Police, Mohammed Adamu told reporters that the police were poised to stop ballot box-snatching and other electoral malpractices during the exercise.

 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has distanced himself from reports making the rounds that he is seeking a return to office as Nigeria president in 2023.

His Spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze in a statement said Nigerians should ignore the report adding his Principal has no such ambition.

According to him, the former President has not made any comments nor spoken to anyone on the coming elections.

Jonathan was Nigeria’s president from 2009 till 2015.

He succeeded former president Uma’aru Musa Ya’ardua who died in office after an illness.