A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) challenging the implementation of the Band A electricity tariff review by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and 11 others.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) disclosed via its official X handle on Thursday that the judgment was delivered on Monday. The court ruled that MAN’s case was premature, without regard for the provisions of Section 51 of the Electricity Act 2023, and thus an abuse of the court process.

MAN had sought to challenge the review of electricity tariffs implemented by NERC, alleging that the regulatory process was not duly followed, particularly for Band A customers. The court, however, determined that MAN had not exhausted the required dispute resolution mechanisms before filing the suit and thus struck out the case.

NERC had argued that MAN’s claims were premature, as proper legal procedures had not been adhered to. The court’s decision brings temporary relief to the electricity distributors, while MAN continues to contend with the impact of the tariff hike, which it claims has tripled electricity costs for manufacturers under Band A.