Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The management of Ossiomo Power Company, an indigenous electricity firm operating in the Ologbo area of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area in Edo State, has threatened to initiate contempt of court proceedings against a Chinese company, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co. Ltd (CCETC), for allegedly flagrantly disregarding subsisting court orders. The power firm disclosed this on Friday, August 7, 2026, in a statement made available to newsmen by its Public Relations Officer, Ralph Okhiria, detailing what it described as a pattern of deliberate violations and attempts to undermine judicial authority.
Okhiria alleged that despite clear orders from both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Edo State High Court in Benin City, CCETC has continued to engage in several vexatious activities in deliberate disregard of the rulings. He insisted that both companies are currently before these courts, which have issued orders for the status quo to be maintained pending the determination of the substantive dispute. According to him, Ossiomo Power Company has decided to drag CCETC to court for violating these orders. "Ossiomo Power Company and its affiliates hereby bring to the attention of the public the continued illegal activities of Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (CCETC) at the Ossiomo Industrial Park, notwithstanding the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Edo State High Court," the statement read.
The company cited specific instances of alleged violations, including an incident on Thursday, August 6, 2026, when CCETC Chinese staff, along with hired workers, reportedly used an excavator to illegally trespass onto Ossiomo's land to erect two electricity concrete poles in direct breach of court orders. Okhiria further alleged that on Friday, August 7, 2026, CCETC sought to erect additional electricity poles on Ossiomo's land to facilitate a connection to its IPP1 and to the 33kV lines, both of which, he maintained, are wholly owned by the Ossiomo companies. He stated that CCETC had been restrained by both courts from tampering with these facilities. The statement also claimed that CCETC, in connivance with persons of questionable character, has sought to attack Ossiomo personnel and security officers on its facilities, including its Gas Plant, and interfere with the company's property and operations. "These actions are particularly concerning given the court orders and the fact that the underlying disputes remain before the courts," Okhiria said.
The dispute between Ossiomo Power and CCETC is a long-standing ownership tussle over the power plant and its critical infrastructure. The conflict came to a head in September 2025, when the power plant was shut down. On September 11, 2025, Justice Mary Itsueli of an Edo State High Court granted an interim injunction restraining CCETC from accessing the land of Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited or utilising its property, including the 33KVA lines, gas engines, and gas infrastructure, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. The court also restrained CCETC from parading itself as a member or shareholder of the claimant company. Subsequently, on October 15, 2025, CCETC filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and the court has since ordered that the status quo be maintained between the parties.
Ossiomo Power has maintained that CCETC's role was limited to a contract executed in 2018 for the supply and installation of engines for the Independent Power Project. The company has also revealed that it has paid over N2 billion to CCETC since the power plant started operations. In a separate development on August 1, 2026, Ossiomo Power accused CCETC of attempting to circumvent the ongoing litigation by filing what it described as a fictitious petition with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding its wholly-owned Project Company, "COPC," in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2025, which was instituted by CCETC itself in October 2025.
Okhiria called on the relevant authorities to ensure CCETC complies with the court orders and prevent further unauthorised interference with Ossiomo's property, infrastructure, and operations to avoid a breakdown of law and order. He explained that the power company reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the dispute through appropriate legal and regulatory channels. As of the time of this report, CCETC could not be reached for comments as telephone calls put through to them went unanswered. The case highlights the challenges of enforcing court orders in complex commercial disputes involving foreign entities and the potential for such conflicts to escalate into broader threats to law and order.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments