ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The residents of Umuodum, Ogba Quarters in Mbaukwu town, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have petitioned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission over alleged collusion by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to defraud the community of N38.1 million, reportedly an unpaid electricity bill issued in their name.
In the petition, signed by Chukwuebuka Daniel, Nweke Odum and Chukwuma Augustin Igboanugo and made available to journalists on Tuesday, the community accused EEDC of working with some former leaders to allegedly divert funds previously paid to the company for electricity bills.
The petition provided the community’s electricity details as EEDC Customer Account No: 138994651, with the customer name listed as ODUM S/S and the address as Umuodum, Ogba, Mbaikwu.
The petitioners alleged that EEDC disconnected power supply to the community on the claim that Umuodum was indebted to the tune of N38.1 million.
They said they subsequently contacted the former Chairman of the Umuodum Ogba Village Development Union, who was reportedly handed the bill to settle with EEDC, seeking clarification.
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The petition stated, “We are surprised to receive from the youth leader of Umuodum village, a letter from EEDC dated November 28, 2025 demanding the payment of the N38,123,672.73, community electricity bill to EEDC.
“We are angry that EEDC knows the channel through which it should serve the electricity bill debt to Umuodum people, but it decided to serve the community the electricity bill debt through the youth leader, who is an inappropriate channel to serve such letter to the community.”
According to the petitioners, EEDC is aware that Izuchukwu Abana is the current Caretaker Chairman of the Umuodum Ogba Village Development Union, noting that the company had earlier issued him a printout detailing the history of the alleged indebtedness.
They further stated, “For EEDC to have given Mr Abana the printout of the indebtedness, only to turned around to deliver the demand letter of electricity bill payment to the youth leader is in itself evident proof that EEDC knows that it is acting in collusion with those who may have embezzled the money contributed for the payment of the community electricity bill, hence it thinks it can provoke community crisis in Umuodum to shield itself and cohorts, not knowing that Umuodum people are now wise.
“As members of Umuodum community, we cannot contribute money to pay for the same electricity bill a second time, when we have been informed that the electricity bills have been settled by the leadership of Chief Johnbosco Okafor.
“We therefore urge NERC to invite EEDC to present before NERC Panel in Awka a documentation of the paid electricity bill made in the name of Umuodum Village Ogba, Mbaukwu or to state on record by submitting to the commission’s panel a signed official statement that Chief Okafor’s administration did not make any monetary payment in respect of the community electricity bill to EEDC, as was stated in the hand over note to his successor.”
When contacted over the matter, the Head of Communication at EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, referred our correspondent to the Head of Communications at FirstPower Electricity Distribution Limited, Emeka Nwachukwu, noting that the company is the distribution firm responsible for electricity supply in Anambra State.