Ossiomo Power institutes contempt proceedings against Chinese firm over alleged disobedience of court order

The ownership dispute between Ossiomo Power Company Limited and Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited, CCETC, a Chinese firm, has taken a new turn, with the former instituting contempt of court proceedings against the latter over alleged disobedience of a court order.

DAILY POST gathered that the dispute between the two companies began in 2025 when the Chinese firm reportedly took possession of Ossiomo Power Company and prevented it from accessing its facilities and carrying out its electricity supply operations in Edo State.

Ossiomo Power Company instituted the contempt proceedings against the Chinese firm at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

DAILY POST recalls that the defendants, who are now plaintiffs in the substantive suit, instituted an ex parte motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja in October 2025, seeking an order restraining the management of Ossiomo Power Company from carrying out its operations.

The court, however, rejected the ex parte motion and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Following the alleged continued occupation of the company’s facilities, Ossiomo Power Company, through its legal representatives, G. Elias & Co., filed Form 48 against the respondents.

The document, titled “Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court,” was filed in connection with the dispute between the companies.

It was learnt that the contempt proceedings were initially filed in May 2026 but encountered challenges because one of the respondents was in China and could not be served.

The difficulty in serving the respondent in China reportedly prompted Ossiomo Power Company to approach the court again in September 2026 with a motion seeking an order for substituted service in Nigeria.

On September 24, 2026, Ossiomo Power Company and Infrastructure filed contempt of court proceedings against CCETC and Di Xihaou, who has been acting as the Chinese firm’s principal representative in Nigeria.

The management of Ossiomo Power Company and Infrastructure said it had complied with the court’s order to maintain the status quo but accused the Chinese firm of violating the order.

According to the management, the other parties had, individually and collectively, committed several breaches of the court order, prompting the contempt proceedings.

“In February 2026, a video circulated on social media in which CCETC allegedly invited some community members, including Mr Emmanuel Iyase and Mr Eric Osawaru, to IPP1 and presented themselves as the owners of the project.

“Also, in July 2026, CCETC allegedly took a large number of electric poles and forcefully connected them to the 33kV line, which is wholly owned by Ossiomo.

“For these reasons and more, Ossiomo Power Company instituted contempt of court proceedings against CCETC and its directors and staff at the Federal High Court, Abuja,” the management said.

The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the matter.