The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stern call to the nation’s judiciary, urging judges to hold electricity sector operators accountable following the alarming report of 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries recorded in 2024 alone.
The CJN’s charge came during the opening of the 2025 National Seminar on Regulations in the Electricity Power Sector for Judicial Officers, organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), a forum aimed at strengthening legal oversight and safety in the power industry.
The theme of the seminar was “Navigating the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Evolving Electricity Sector.”
NERC’s latest reports revealed that the 112 deaths in 2024 represented only a slight decline from 115 fatalities in 2023, while injuries decreased by nearly seven per cent from the previous year. Major causes of the incidents included vandalism, wire snaps, illegal connections, and unsafe working conditions, with power distribution companies accounting for the vast majority of casualties.
The data also shows that certain quarters saw significant spikes in both deaths and injuries, particularly among electricity workers on duty.
“The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental. It is a legal and moral imperative,” the CJN declared, emphasising the judiciary’s responsibility to ensure that electricity operators adhere strictly to safety regulations and face consequences for negligence.
“NERC’s latest reports reveal an alarming trend. 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries were recorded in 2024 alone. The judiciary must take a proactive stance in enforcing safety regulations.
“Operators who fail to comply must be held accountable, while victims and their families must be accorded the justice they deserve. The safety of our citizens must never be treated as incidental. It is a legal and moral imperative.”
She said one cannot overemphasise the significance of the judiciary in ensuring that regulatory bodies such as the NERC operate within the bounds of the law. According to the CJN, NERC’s statutory responsibility includes the issuance of subsidiary legislation, the setting of rates, and adjudication of industry-related disputes.
Kekere-Ekun said while the powers are necessary for efficient regulation, they must be exercised in a manner that is procedurally fair, transparent, and subject to judicial oversight.
The CJN accordingly said that the courts must remain vigilant in their review of delegated legislation to guard against arbitrariness, protect the doctrine of legitimate expectation, and uphold public participation as a tenet of regulatory governance.
She said in doing so, the judiciary gives life to the rule of law and promotes a legal environment conducive to sustainable development.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the NERC vice chairman, Dr. Musiliu Oseni, said because of the belief that the power sector is a critical sector, as no nation has developed without having sufficient electricity, the Commission has recognised the importance and the criticality of the judiciary.
He added that on that basis, NERC decided to make it a duty to have an interaction with the judicial officers on a regular basis.
He stressed that “And I must say that the purpose of this interaction is not to offer the cause of justice or to have an interaction and engagement with you in order to have some understanding of the technical nature of this sector and to be able to make an informed decision and judgment in dealing with any case that may come before my lawsuit. Past experience has shown that the judiciary can make a marked decision with respect to some previous judicial pronouncements, be it issuance of ex parte order or complete pronouncement of judicial decision.”
Oseni said the commission has experienced a lot of issues that have shaped the development of this sector. He cited an example of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria case in 2015, which up to today is suffering the impact of the judicial pronouncement that was made as far back as a decade ago.
He also cited a similar case is also a case of Toluwai, which was instituted in Lagos, which was in 2016 and the pronouncement was made by the court, which was based on an ex parte motion.
According to him, it took the court of appeal in 2019 to forfeit the judicial pronouncement that was made by the lower court. He lamented that NERC was rendered ineffective during the period. He said investors have to have confidence in the judicial interpretation to invest in the industry.
“We all know that whether we like it or not, investments follow the path to recovery. If investors are not confident of the judicial interpretation of the law, or probably they are afraid of what may become of their investments, there is no way they will be willing to make investments that will be proper or enough for us to have sufficient progress that we all desire with respect to the improvement in performance of electricity in Nigeria,” he stated.
In his goodwill message, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said the electricity sector remains a cornerstone of the nation’s socio-economic development, touching every facet of life – providing energy needed for industrialisation, innovation and improved living standards
Fagbemi noted that the electricity sector in Nigeria is undergoing significant evolution, marked by dynamic reforms, regulatory complexities, and a push for greater efficiency adding that the sector is facing complex legal and regulatory challenges that demand deep understanding and collaboration.
“These changes demand not only legislative attention but also proactive judicial engagement to ensure fairness and accountability in navigating this transformation,” he said.
The AGF promised that the Federal Ministry of Justice would be willing to partner with NERC to enhance the performance of its regulatory roles and expand the frontiers of the legal framework for the electricity industry.
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