The claim was later disproved, as Okusanya had used only ₦5,000 worth of power over two years.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has come under scrutiny after disconnecting the electricity supply of a resident and demanding a ₦310,000 charge for allegedly using too little power, accusing him of meter bypass.
On July 8, IBEDC officials disconnected the power supply of Matthew Okusanya, a resident of Oluwo Estate, claiming he had bypassed his prepaid meter. The allegation was later disproved, as records showed Okusanya used only ₦5,000 worth of electricity over two years.
Okusanya’s daughter pleaded with officials to wait for his return before carrying out the disconnection, but they went ahead. The next day, at IBEDC’s Oluyole office, the business manager, Alhaja Abidemi Amodu, told him:
“For two years, you’ve paid only ₦5,000, which means you must be stealing power. What they suspected is true.”
Despite providing video evidence and an engineer’s report confirming no bypass, Amodu handed him a document demanding ₦310,000 and said:
“I have no business with you, leave my office and meet the person who disconnected the line.”
An engineer later met the disconnection official, who offered to reconnect the power for ₦30,000 but refused to issue any formal receipt. IBEDC has yet to restore Okusanya’s power supply and insists the ₦310,000 penalty must be paid.