A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Karu has dismissed a criminal case filed by Mr. Abolarinwa Olatunbosun against members of the leadership of Royal Anchor Estate and certain estate workers, bringing an end to proceedings that stemmed from a dispute over access to the estate’s electrical infrastructure.
The case, marked CR/124/24, arose after Mr. Olatunbosun allegedly attempted to connect his property to the estate’s power infrastructure without paying the ₦4 million infrastructure levy previously contributed by other estate residents to fund the facility.
According to information made available by the Estate Management, estate officials intervened to prevent the connection, citing the need to protect the collective investment made by residents who had complied with the levy requirements.
The dispute subsequently escalated into a criminal complaint against members of the estate leadership and workers, resulting in court proceedings at the Karu Magistrate Division.
At the latest hearing, the presiding Chief Magistrate, P. B. Balogun, reviewed the evidence and submissions presented by the parties and ruled that the complainant failed to establish his case against the defendants. The court consequently dismissed the matter in favour of the defendants.
Reacting to the judgment, Estate Management expressed appreciation to residents who attended court proceedings throughout the duration of the case, noting that their support and commitment were encouraging despite the time and financial costs involved.
The management also disclosed that a separate civil action filed by Mr. Olatunbosun remains pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The suit reportedly lists Royal Anchor Estate, members of the estate leadership, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as defendants.
Estate officials expressed optimism that the pending matter would be resolved through due legal process.
The dismissal of the criminal case marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute, while attention now shifts to the pending High Court proceedings.
Four persons including a retired Naval Admiral were dragged before Karu Chief Magistrate Court, Abuja, for allegedly tampering with electricity supply, illegal disconnection of residents from electricity and “impersonating” Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc Staff at Royal Anchor Estate.
The court found out that the plaintiff, Abolarinwa Olatunbosun, who had in the suit accused the defendants of conspiring to disconnect and actually disconnecting power supply to his house and thereby depriving him of power supply had no cause for his suit.
The suit marked CR124/24 had Rear Admiral Tanko Yakubu Pani (rtd), Engineer Abraham Osazuah, Henry Ortese, and the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Attahiru Musa, all officials of the estate as defendants. The alleged offence committed on October 9, 2024, is contrary to Section 96 (1) of the Penal Code, Act.
The suspects reportedly disconnected residents for not paying for transformers and feeder pillars using Attahiru Musa (Security Guard) and Henry Ortese, an electrician to disconnect Residents for as long as four years until they would have paid.