By Segun Oye
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc (IBEDC) has reacted to the closure of its offices by the Oyo State Government, describing the action as “retaliatory and illegal”.
The electricity distribution company posited that that the action appears retaliatory because it disconnected electricity supply to State Secretariat and the Governor’s Office following N450 million being owed by the state government.
A statement signed by the IBEDC Chief Operating Officer, John Ayodele, on Wednesday, dismissed the claims by the state government that IBEDC is owing revenue bills and personal income.
The statement reads: “The management of IBEDC hereby informs its esteemed customers of the retaliatory and illegal action of the Oyo State Government over the issue of its huge indebtedness.
“The Oyo State Government on Wednesday 9 February 2022 commenced the sealing of our offices within the state over some suddenly contrived debts labelled revenue bills and personal income without due notification.
“This issue of revenue bills and personal income arising now is quite suspicious. Oyo State Government is owing IBEDC a whooping consumption outstanding of N450 million for over a period of three years.
“No business in this country can run successfully with such a huge outstanding, the power we distribute to customers must be accounted for and paid for, we have no choice but to disconnect the Oyo State Secretariat, so it is worrisome to see that the government has sealed off our offices with this underhand and arm-twisting tactic, instead of paying the debt owed.
“This was not done in good faith and it would have a damaging effect on the business and service delivery to our customers.”
