By Charles Olewezi

The Federal Government’s failure to complete the Mbaise Transmission Power and Transmission Line Project in Imo State is now the subject of litigation at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The project, located at Ibeku in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, was commenced sometime in 2009 by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, under the control of the Ministry of Power and under the regulation of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

While embarking on the project, a vast area of farmland was taken from the indigenes with the promise to provide constant electricity within a short time. However, the projects were later abandoned by the TCN.

Owing to the absence of a transmission station in Mbaise, the entire district, which comprises about seven Local Government Areas, has been denied electricity supply till date while other districts in Imo State enjoy electricity supply.

Worried by the prolonged abandonment, the Incorporated Trustees of Greater Mbaise Development Forum (GMDF) approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking judicial review in the form of an Order of Mandamus to compel the government to complete the project.

The plaintiff is praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Hon. Minister of Power, TCN, NERC and the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately complete the abandoned project.

Court documents revealed that sometime in September 2023, a petition was written against the defendants at the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions over perennial blackout, extortion and total neglect of Mbaise District. Upon being served with the petition, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants admitted that the lack of electricity supply in Mbaise was due to absence of transmission station but claimed the project was ongoing.

At the resumed sitting, the Hon. Minister of Power and the TCN were absent in court. The Attorney General of the Federation and NERC were represented. Counsel to the AGF moved a motion to regularise their defence, a move interpreted as challenging the suit that seeks to compel government to complete its own abandoned project.

The matter has been adjourned to 4th November, 2026 by 12 noon for hearing.