A legal action was recently lodged with the Constitutional Court of Benin on November 19, 2025, targeting Louis Vlavonou, the President of the National Assembly, and Hyppolite Ebagnitchie, the current Director General of SBEE.
The lawsuit stems from a power disruption that occurred during the National Assembly’s plenary session on November 14 and 15, 2025, convened for the constitutional review process.
Judicaël Glele Akpokpo, a legal expert and the plaintiff in this case, has characterized the interruption as ‘legally problematic,’ underscoring its timing during a crucial juncture and alleging the failure of the two officials to implement any contingency plans.
Referring to Article 35 of the Constitution, which mandates public officials to exhibit ‘conscience, competence, probity, dedication, and loyalty,’ Akpokpo highlights SBEE’s constitutional duty to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly to vital institutions.
The petitioner is urging the Constitutional Court to recognize a breach of the Constitution by both the National Assembly President and the SBEE Director and to propose the establishment of a permanent mechanism to guarantee power provision to institutions during significant sessions.