Oyo State Government has sealed off Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc offices in the state for disconnecting electricity supply to the state secretariat.
The company said the state went ahead to shut its office despite that it was owing it N450 million over three years.
The Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, John Ayodele, who said this in a statement on Wednesday explained that the state government is claiming that the company is owing it revenue bills and personal income tax.
He stated that IBEDC had written several letters to the state and has held meetings with its officials to remind them of the need to pay the debt so that the company would not go under but they failed to pay.
The statement read, “The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company(IBEDC) Plc 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 whopping consumption outstanding of 450 Million Naira for over a period of three years.
” Ayodele explained that the company as part of efforts to get the outstanding paid initiated several engagements through correspondences and physical meetings, but all these efforts yielded no result .
“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 tactics , instead of paying the debt owed.
“This was not done in good faith and it would have damaging effect on the business and service delivery to our customers .
“The COO appealed to the State Governor, his Excellency Engr.Seyi Makinde to look into the matter in the interest of all concerned as this would further exacerbate the power challenges and pressure on residents and commercial activities within the state. IBEDC engages in essential services to the public and the effect of this arm twisting tactics can at best be imagined if not quickly arrested
