The Area G Police Command Ogba, Lagos has warned Ikeja Electric to stay off Oke-Ira Community until another meeting scheduled with the command for Tuesday 19th of March, 2019.
InsideOjodu reports that It was made clear to the Ikeja Electric to work with one or two leaders of the community if there will be a need for operation; or to collect money from customers owing, but not to disconnect.
However the residents of the community were very happy at the intervention of the Police and the order given.
“We once again thank the Nigeria Police Force, Area G Command for their professional and intelligent intervention and we further beg your cooperation and support to protect the Oke-Ira people from oppression.”
Recall that InsideOjodu had earlier this year report a peaceful protest by the community demanding for prepaid meter and the Ikeja Electric promised to meter all houses by February ending.
The meeting was called by the Area G Police Command following the report by the Ikeja Electric that the people of the Oke-Ira would not allow them to carry out their operations.
The Coordinator of the Omo-Ilu Initiative; Hon. Lanre Fatuyi, Qca speaking for the community said based on the January peaceful demonstration to Ikeja Electric Headquarters, Alausa to reject the incessant estimated billing of the people and series of meeting with Ikeja Electric top management staff even at their Business unit disconnection is illegal.
He therefore condemned the intimidation and harassment by Ikeja Electric parading the Mob Police with heavy arms to collect money from their peaceful and law abiding customers.
Fatuyi quoted the former Ikeja Business manager, now transferred to Abule Egba who was also present at the meeting Mr. Adelakun telling the Oke-Ira Undertaking Service manager Mrs. Yemisi Ijadonbola in a meeting held at the Business Unit Oregun before the representatives of the community to collect their money using persuasion and not disconnection until the community residents gets their prepaid meter as demanded.
Having failed in their promise by Mr. Adelakun to install prepaid to every building in Oke-Ira Community by February 2019, they have again promised the community in a meeting with the Youth and CDAs to unfailingly ensure all Oke-Ira community residents are metered by April 2019.
Lanre OMO-ILU presented evidence of houses as at last year January 2018 on N5,000 per month and now receiving nothing less than N30,000.00 to 40,000.00 per month as at when we have the worst power supply.
The Honorable Councilor of Oke-Ira Central, Ward C of Ojodu LCDA Hon. Gbenga Opebi at the police command condemned the humiliating system of operation of the Ikeja Electric in his ward.
He uses his residence as one of the victim of the estimated billing, a bill from N10,000.00 in November to about N30,000.00 in December… He asked for the justification of the bill as there is no change or improvement in power supply.
Hon Gbenga Opebi, and the Council Chief of Staff Hon. Lanre Oboli confirm the Ojodu LCDA intervention and series of letters to the Ikeja Electric demanding the Ayanleye Street transformer be restore proved abortive.
In the meeting to represent the Ikeja Electric were:
The ESC Mrs Ijeoma Ezeoluah from the Headquarters, the Oke-Ira Undertaking Service Manager, Mrs Yemisi Ijadonbola and the IE Chief Security Officer name unknown.
Representative of Oke-Ira Community include:
Hon. Lanre Fatuyi OMO-ILU, Comrade Tosin Shittu, Alfa Wakilu and accomplished by the Hon Gbenga Opebi, WARD C Councilor; the Ojodu LCDA Chief of Staff Hon Lanre Oboli; Engr Alkemoz among others.