A human rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), is planning to drag the authorities of the Ibadan Electric Distribution Company (IBEDC) to Court over what it termed “crazy bill, illegal extortion of consumers and poor supply of electricity to the masses under the jurisdiction of Sango Ota arising.”

It noted in a recent statement that the electric distribution company had made life unbearable for the people of the area due to their poor power supply.

The group also alleged that majority of the IBEDC staff have been treating their customers in the area unfailingly, saying that would not fold its arms and allow illegality to thrive in the area under the guise of providing service to the people.

Meanwhile, an IBEDC consumer, Mr. Surajudeen Adedeji, has lodged a complaint at the Ikeja office of the human rights organisation on the illegal action of IBEDC (Joju office) in giving them exorbitant estimated bill even when aware that they have been using Pre-paid meter since April, 2019.

His refusal to pay the illegal sum of N70,000 made the IBEDC officials to disconnect his Pre-paid meter, adding that they have been paying the sum of N8,000 for electricity on monthly basis since installation of the Pre-paid meter in the month of April 2019.

Adedeji had earlier informed the management of the IBEDC through a signed written letter dated 16th of April, 2019, to its Sango-Ota Business Manager, informing him of their Pre-paid meter installation in their residence at No 24b, Alhaji Yusuf Adisa Street, Ota, Ogun State, which led to the full payment of the sum on their estimated bill in April.

According to the letter, “This is to inform the management of the IBEDC that we have commenced the use of pre-paid meter at the above address since the beginning of the month of April, 2019.

“Therefore, we want our bill to be henceforth stopped and we also use this medium to call your office to come and inspect of our premises for assessment.

“The outstanding balance on our last bill had been cleared by the month of April and the photocopy of the bill is hereby attached .We will appreciate your prompt and warm response to this our letter.”

Speaking on behalf of CHRSJ in a signed statement, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, condemned the action IBEDC officials, insisting that customers were the kings to the service providers and they should be treated as such, adding that this was how electricity providers in the country have been shortchanging their teeming customers. This, he said, cannot be tolerated any more.

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