Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Kekere-Ekun has expressed worry over the 112 electricity-related deaths and 95 injuries recorded in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) in 2024.
Delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) 2025 Seminar for Judicial Officers in Abuja on Monday, Kekere-Ekun told the judiciary to strictly enforce industry safety regulations, and that there was the need for courts to hold operators accountable for violations that compromise public safety.
The seminar, themed “Navigating the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Evolving Electricity Sector,” brought together key stakeholders to address emerging challenges in the power industry.
She said, “NERC’s latest reports reveal an alarming trend. One hundred and twelve 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.”
The CJN emphasized the significance of the judiciary in ensuring that regulatory bodies such as the NERC operate within the bounds of the law.
Kekere-Ekun said NERC’s statutory responsibility includes the issuance of subsidiary legislation, the setting of rates, and adjudication of industry-related disputes, adding that
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 said, accordingly, 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 promote a legal environment conducive to sustainable development.
The NERC Vice Chairman, 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 recognized the importance and the criticality of the judiciary.
He said on that basis, NERC decided to make it a duty to have an interaction with the judicial officers on a regular basis.
Oseni said: “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.
“The 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.
