The Southeastern Zone of the Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria (ECAN) has criticized Aba-based lawyer Larry Iroka for allegedly misleading his client, the Aba Electricity Consumers Forum, on well-established legal matters. Following a recent ruling by the Abia State High Court, which affirmed that only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction over electricity-related cases under the 2023 Nigerian Electricity Act, ECAN accused Iroka of making confusing public statements despite the court’s clarity.
The court, led by Justice Enyinnaya Ikpeazu, ruled that the forum bypassed proper legal channels by seeking redress before the 30-day period outlined by the law had expired. ECAN urged respect for the legal process and the court’s precedent-setting judgment.
The Aba Electricity Consumers Forum, an unregistered group, filed a lawsuit in January against NERC and Aba Power Ltd at the Abia State High Court over a tariff adjustment order. Justice Enyinnaya Ikpeazu ruled the forum lacked legal standing due to its unregistered status but allowed three individual members to proceed.
Despite this setback, the group’s lawyer, Larry Iroka, continued to criticize Aba Power in the media, prompting the Southeastern Zone of ECAN to accuse him of grandstanding and misleading his clients. ECAN noted that Iroka falsely claimed Aba Power was in contempt of court—claims never formally raised in court—and advised him to stop wasting resources by pursuing the matter at the Federal High Court. ECAN also pointed out the irony of Iroka’s criticism of Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, whom he once admired as a law student.
ECAN questioned why Aba Power, the only DisCo without government subsidies, is being sued for following a NERC directive, while the 11 subsidized DisCos complied months earlier without legal distractions. It added that if Iroka’s group were from another region, their actions might be seen as marginalizing the Southeast.
