A Consumer Rights activist and former staff of PHCN, Mr. Akin Bodunse has leveled allegations against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, accusing them of overbilling the University College Hospital, Ibadan, UCH, to the staggering sum of over N88 million.
He also alleged that the power distribution company had violated the existing law, which stipulates that IBEDC and similar entities should never disconnect any facility equipped with life-support machines and other critical equipment.
Recall that the institution was thrown into darkness as the IBEDC disconnected it electricity supply three times this year owing to the backlog of electricity bills it owed the company estimated at N495m.
This necessitated the facility seeking the intervention of the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr Wale Edun to offset its outstanding bill to the IBEDC.
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Also the facility had denied owing the IBEDC, a N495 million bill, as alleged by the company.
Mrs. Funmilayo Adetuyibi, UCH’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Fumilayo Adetuyibi who refuted the claim, stated that it was not true that the hospital had accumulated such a bill over the last three years.
She said the present UCH administration, led by Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, assumed office on March 1, 2019 and inherited over N27 million as at Feb. 27, 2019, adding that it had since ensured the monthly payment of bills brought by IBEDC.
“The UCH management has also been settling the backlog of bills inherited from previous administrations,” she asserted.
Akinbodunse who made the submissions on alleged over hike of electricity bill while featuring on a Fresh 105.9fm live show said: “I joined NEPA when I was 17 years old and I worked there for several years before retiring and becoming a Consultant in the industry.
“I have experience in printing of bills, distribution of bills and even customer care. So, I know what I am saying when I said that UCH was overbilled to the tune of over N88m.
“You see, when IBEDC’s consultant asked me how I arrived at that amount, I told him that I have gone through the payment and billing records of UCH. I stand by my submission. We will continue our investigation.”
Meanwhile, IBEDC reconnected UCH over the weekend after leaving the health institution in darkness for over three weeks.
It was gathered that UCH paid a little above 10 percent of the outstanding bill it owed IBEDC and agreed on a plan to gradually defray the rest.
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