A dissatisfied customer of Ikeja Electricity (IE) shared his frustrating encounter with the DisCo. He expressed his dismay over the challenges he faced while attempting to obtain a replacement for his malfunctioning prepaid meter, even a year after initiating the request.
The customer, a senior journalist and former presidential aide who preferred to remain anonymous recounted the unpleasant situation he encountered while dealing with the IE team.
After completing the required online procedures, a team from the company inspected his residence in Ikosi, a Lagos suburb, and subsequently provided a payment code.
However, that’s when the problem emerged.
The media professional became inquisitive about the payment request. His curiosity arose from his involvement in a committee established by the Federal Government in partnership with the NERC (National Electricity Regulation Commission) to oversee mass metering several years back. He knew that funds had been allocated to electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to acquire meters for customer mass metering, a prerequisite for tariff adjustments.
He was directed to contact a staffer of the Ikeja Disco, Mr. Kerry Onyeabor, to facilitate the installation of a new meter to replace the faulty one.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Onyeabor requested payment for a “fast track” service. In response, the ex-presidential aide asked for the official company account to process the payment.
However, instead of providing the company’s corporate account, Onyeabor allegedly shared his personal OPay account (account number: 8166412743) through WhatsApp.
After delaying in making the payment, a period of uncertainty followed. On August 8, the prominent journalist recounted receiving a call from Onyeabor, who informed him that a team had arrived at his residence to install the meter. However, upon consulting his security personnel, he learned that no meter had been brought.
Two days later, the same team reportedly returned to the property to install the meter. However, they cited an obstacle—a car parked beside an electric pole—that prevented them from proceeding with the installation.
The customer believed the IE operators were only deploying delay tactics to extract “bribes” from him “because I wondered how the parking of a car close to the pole outside could obstruct the installation of a meter on a board that is inside the compound and several feet away.”
On August 19, a WhatsApp exchange took place between the complainant and the IE staff. The staff member assured that the meter installation would proceed and requested the customer’s payment, stating, “I will be expecting my funds boss – Opay 8166412743 Nwaonai Kerry Onyeabor.”
At this juncture, the frustrated customer expressed indignation at the IE official’s manipulative actions, emphasizing that while he is willing to show appreciation after a satisfactory job, he wouldn’t tolerate being asked for a bribe before fulfilling their duty.
To this, Onyeabor replied in text sighted by this reporter: “I am not chasing money that was not already spent, sir. I have done everything (paid for the meter and fast-tracking).”
An analysis of the conversation revealed that Onyeabor claimed to have incurred N20,000 for “fast-tracking” the meter allocation process and another N20,000 for the installation of the meter.
The complainant reached out to Onyeabor on August 21 but was fruitless as the staffer claimed he was ill, promising to “solve the matter tomorrow when I get to the office.”
It turned out to be another failed promise.
Efforts by The Nation to get a response from Ikeja Electric have met a brick wall.
On August 21, this reporter contacted the media officer of IE, Mr. Akinola Ayeni, for confirmation if Onyeabor was on IE payroll. The Nation also sought to get confirmation whether a customer seeking meter replacement for a faulty meter has to pay for such replacement and to also get clarification on why the installation was being delayed.
For more than a week, Ayeni neither responded to the inquiries sent to his two WhatsApp lines. He also did not respond to calls put through to his two mobile numbers. A screenshot of the WhatsApp messages between both former presidential aide and Onyebor as evidence of allegation needing a response, including a further voice note message sent to Ayeni, was also not responded to, eight days after.
As at the time of going to press last night, the IE was yet to react to the allegation.
