Abuja, Nigeria – April 10, 2025
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 7, 2025, for the hearing of new affidavits filed by Ziklagsis Network Ltd, a metering company, seeking to prevent the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Power, and four others from reclaiming a disputed ₦39.1 billion mass metering contract.
At the hearing on Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho directed all parties to serve their amended, further, and better affidavits before the adjourned date.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, representing Ziklagsis, had earlier requested an adjournment to allow time to regularize filings and submit a reply to previous arguments. The motion was not opposed by Marcus Abu, Esq, counsel to De-Haryor Global Services Ltd, who agreed that the adjournment would enable all parties to properly respond to the pending affidavits.
The legal dispute stems from a suit filed by Ziklagsis Network Ltd (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/576/2024), alleging unlawful interference with a mass metering contract valued at ₦39,171,985,233.95. The defendants include:
- The Federal Government of Nigeria
- The Federal Ministry of Power
- The Minister of Power
- The Debt Management Office
- Providus Bank Ltd
- De-Haryor Global Services Ltd
Ziklagsis argues that, under the Judgment Compromise Agreement it signed with the Ministry on August 28, 2017, specifically citing Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 18(i)-(iii), 24, and 29(ii), the federal authorities lacked the legal authority to tamper with, confiscate, seize, withhold, divert, convert, or appropriate the funds earmarked for the supply of electricity meters across Nigeria.
The company is seeking judicial protection against what it calls unauthorized interference in the execution of the contract and has asked the court to uphold the terms of the agreement.
The outcome of the case could have significant implications for Nigeria’s ongoing mass metering program, which is a key part of efforts to improve electricity billing and distribution nationwide.
