The electrocution of a customer under Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr. Aliu Guda has sparked off disagreement between Electricity Consumer’s Protection group and IBEDC in Ogun State.
 
The group has accused the distribution company of criminal negligence, which allegedly led to the death of Guda.  National Coordinator of the group, Adeola Samuel-Ilori told The Guardian that he communicated the allegations to the distribution company in a letter dated November 13, 2023.
 
In the letter, he disclosed that the negligence of the marketer responsible for Olomu, Ifo community was a contributing factor. According to him, despite being informed a day earlier about a fallen low voltage wire in the community, the marketer failed to address the issue, leading to the incident.
 
A copy of the letter made available to The Guardian, read: “When the incident happened, the community contacted IBEDC at the Joju business unit Sango as well as the marketer, Odetola Famakinde.
 
He  failed to come around the community to verify the damage done as well as to put off the light,  and cut off the fell wire from the power source. It took the bravery of one of the community youths to go into the feeder pillar to remove the fuse to that particular area the wire served before the dead body can be evacuated for burial according to his faith as a Muslim.
 
“It took Mr. Famakinde two days after the burial to visit the incident place just to see the wire and left without even a courtesy visit to the deceased’s family, nor a condolence to his extended Hausa community.”
  
Samuel-Ilori expressed concern about the organisation’s seeming indifference to the incident involving their staff that resulted in the loss of Guda’s life.  
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Despite the company’s claim of responsibility to its employees, Samuel-Ilori finds it troubling that there has been a lack of empathy beyond Mr. Famakinde’s visit to the scene and meeting with the Arewa representative. 

Despite acknowledging that no amount can truly bring back the departed soul, he stressed the importance of genuine compensation.
 
He called IBEDC to ensure that all field personnel involved in the incident on October 25, are handed over to the police for a thorough investigation into their criminal negligence.
 
Reacting, Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, said investigations are currently underway to ascertain the facts of the matter in accordance with the stipulated procedures. 
 
She requested time to complete the investigation and promised to provide further information thereafter. Busolami added that IBEDC has paid a condolence visit to the Hausa community involved,  and expressed profound sympathy and condolences to the family of the deceased.