The Federal High Court Ikoyi has ruled that the 45 per cent tariff increase by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, was illegal and should be reversed immediately.

The court said on Wednesday that the implementation of the huge increase constitutes a violation of its interim order.

It also awarded a N50, 000 cost against NERC.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which has opposed the price hike, described the ruling as victory for the ordinary Nigerian whose life has been worsened by the exploitative electricity bills.

The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, urged NERC and electricity distributing companies to obey the court judgment and immediately revert to the old rates.

The new electricity tariff took effect from February 2016 as sanctioned by the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola and Sam Amadi, Chairman of NERC; despite a resolution by the National Assembly and restraining court order against it.