From OsaigbovoIguobaro, Benin
A cross session of local farmers from Obazagbon, Umogun, Umagbae and Evbonogbon and Urhonigbe Communities in Orhionmwon Local government area of Edo State have alleged sabotage by the Benin Electricity Distribution company (BEDC) overestimated bills of N150 million.
Urhonigbe development Crusader and Idolevbo Elders made this known in separate petitions to Edo State House of Assembly member representing Orhionmwon south constituency, Hon. Friday Ogierhiakhi at the weekend in Benin City.
Spokesmen of the groups, Prince OmoOkunoghae and Bright Agbonhor berated the electricity company over epileptic power supply; even after the company had compelled some communities in the locality to part with personal donations of N90, 000.00 to fix the unabated problem.
They said the sum of N149.6 million electricity bills in February this year was suicidal.
Responding, Hon. Friday Ogierhiakhi who described the action of authorities of Benin Distribution Company (BEDC) as criminal and exploitative, threatened to sue the company if it refuses to toll the part of transparency.
According to him, “As somebody who has offered to serve the people, I will not allow this fraud to go without check. Besides, we are not only going to use the legislative power, we will also use legal process to ensure that justice is done”.
He called on BEDC to revert the, “fraudulent billing” in the constituency and repatriate the money it illegally obtained from his people and expressed concern that the community depends on electricity supply from neighbouring Delta state and called for a substation in the locality.
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