Hold Power Firms Accountable for 112 Deaths, 95 Injuries – CJN Tells Judges
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on judges to hold electricity operators accountable for the alarming number of deaths and injuries linked to the sector, urging strict enforcement of safety regulations.
Speaking at the 2025 National Seminar on Regulations in the Electricity Power Sector for Judicial Officers in Abuja, Justice Kekere-Ekun referenced a recent report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which recorded 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries in 2024—only a slight improvement from 2023.
“The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental. It is a legal and moral imperative,” she stated. “Operators who fail to comply with safety standards must be held accountable, and victims must receive justice.”
The seminar, co-hosted by NERC and the National Judicial Institute (NJI), was themed “Navigating the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Evolving Electricity Sector.”
According to NERC, most incidents stemmed from vandalism, illegal connections, snapped wires, and unsafe work environments, with power distribution companies largely responsible. Workers on duty accounted for a notable portion of the casualties.
The CJN stressed the importance of judicial oversight in ensuring NERC’s regulatory powers—such as setting tariffs and resolving disputes—are exercised transparently and fairly. She added that courts must guard against arbitrary decisions and uphold public participation in regulatory governance.
NERC Vice Chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, in his remarks, noted the judiciary’s vital role in supporting investment and confidence in the power sector. Citing past legal decisions that hindered NERC’s effectiveness—like the MAN case of 2015 and the Toluwai case of 2016—he warned that inconsistent judicial rulings could destabilize reform efforts.
“Investors follow the path of recovery. Without confidence in judicial interpretation, there can be no meaningful investment in the sector,” Oseni warned.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, also emphasized the sector’s strategic importance to national development. He pledged the Federal Ministry of Justice’s support for NERC’s regulatory mission and called for stronger legal collaboration to navigate ongoing reforms.
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