News

How FCCPC Solved My Over N600,000 Estimated Billing By JEDC – Consumer

Published

2 years ago

February 25, 2024

An electricity consumer in Bauchi state, Abubakar Yusuf has recounted how his estimated billing problems with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) was resolved within a couple of days by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)

Yusuf, who is also a Professor from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, said he had an estimated billing of over N600,000 and was being charged N90,000 to N95,000 monthly.

He disclosed this on Saturday at the end of a four-day one stop-shop for addressing billing, metering, transformer, connection, disconnection, customer service and other electricity consumer issues in JEDC coverage areas organized by FCCPC in Bauchi.

“My complaint was so serious and when I came here, I was attended to quickly. I went through the guidelines, filled the forms and they interviewed me. In fact, I was receiving a huge amount of energy bills and it kept increasing every month to the extent that I was being charged over N600,000 outstanding bills.

“I received about N90,000 to N95,000 monthly. So, when I complained here, they quickly went through my record, do you know they finally asked me to pay to clear my account? Just about N50,000.

“This is so excellent, I never thought that something like this could happen in Nigeria. I am so impressed and I want to encourage everyone that has similar problems to come and complain to this FCCPC,” he said.

The Professor, who commended the federal government for the establishment of the commission and its commitment in solving people’s problems in energy related matters, said he is now a satisfied customer of electricity service.

Also speaking, Honourable Tanko Dutse, who could not hide his happiness said that the FCCPC had opened people’s eyes to the fact that they have rights over issues of electricity distribution and consumption.

He said: “Many people don’t know that they have a right because they assume it is still the decree during military rule that NEPA are always right and that you cannot challenge them.

“But with this commission and what they are doing to people and especially myself, I’m very impressed and happy with how they solved my problem.

“I had wanted to instigate a legal action against the JEDC that I deserve to have electricity without any obstruction before I got to know about this commission. I came and they resolved the matter and right now, I’m so happy and grateful to the federal government for this laudable commission.”

Dutse however, urged the commission to intensify awareness campaigns through the media so that a lot of people would get to know about the commission and what they do.

Earlier, Mr Adamu Abdullah, Acting Executive Chairman, FCCPC said that the one stop-shop is held in all zones of the country to gather complaints of consumers in supply and distribution of power, banking and aviation and proffer possible solutions to them.

He said this is because the mandate of the commission is to protect the interests of consumers across the country.

“Electricity Services consumers have come and reported to us that they are not satisfied with the services, so we decided to intervene.

“The complaints have to do with estimated billing, supply of meters, communities in which they pull resources to buy infrastructure materials like transformers, wires, poles and were still charged to pay for the installation apart from buying the materials themselves.

“These are issues we have discussed with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission since we have an MoU. So, if we find out that there is any customer that comes to report that something beyond his cap has been charged to his meter, we have to sit down with the DISCO and resolve it,” He said.

News

Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors

Published

9 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.

Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.

The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”

News

Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

Published

9 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

News

Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi

Published

13 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.