By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Management of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited (FirstPower) has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the allegation that the Company levied the sum of Two Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦2.1 million) on residents of Amudo Community, Awka, Anambra State, for the repair of a vandalized transformer serving the area.
The investigation followed an allegation raised on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, during the Company’s Customer Engagement Forum held in Awka, where a resident of Amudo Village, Mr. Okechukwu Obeta, claimed that the villagers were asked to contribute the said amount to fix the faulty transformer. Mr. Obeta, who also identified himself as a journalist with The Leadership Newspaper, stated at the forum that he had already published a news report on the matter and the alleged extortion, insisting that the action was illegal.
Reacting to the claim, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstPower, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, expressed surprise at the allegation, stating that the Management was not aware of any such directive or action by any staff of the Company. He therefore appealed to the accuser to provide evidence and disclose the identities of any officials involved to enable proper investigation, further assuring that any staff found culpable would be dismissed and prosecuted in accordance with the law. However, the accuser declined to provide any proof or useful information to support the allegation, only maintaining that he was certain of his claim.
The MD at the event emphasized that FirstPower has never demanded or authorised the collection of money from any community for the repair or replacement of faulty or vandalized transformers, stressing that such responsibilities are borne by the Company. He disclosed that, contrary to the allegation, FirstPower solely incurred the full cost of repairing the vandalized transformer in Amudo Community to the tune of about Four Million Naira (₦4 million as against the ₦2.1 million alleged by the reporter). He also added that the repair was carried out within the same week the incident was officially reported to the Company, as against what is alleged in the report.
Management also recalled that prior to the said publication, representatives of Amudo Community (through Mr. Obeta and one Mr. Osita Obi) had invited the Company’s Head of Communications to a meeting held in the village on February 21, 2026, where they complained that their electricity facilities had been vandalized repeatedly, before a recent one that occurred on February 3 during rainfall. At the meeting, some residents alleged that they were being asked to contribute money for the repair, claiming that about 20 meters of armored cable would cost about ₦95,000 each as part of the total estimate. They also expressed suspicion of possible conspiracy due to repeated vandalization of the installation.
During the same February meeting, the Head Communications clearly informed the community that FirstPower does not levy customers to repair transformers, and therefore advised them to formally submit a written complaint addressed to the Managing Director to enable proper investigation and action.
Because it was on a weekend (Saturday), he assured to personally send the soft copy of the letter to the MD if they finished writing it, for necessary and urgent actions, and also promised to follow up with the letter and possibly schedule a meeting for them with the MD the next Monday for a direct discussion of the incident. However, neither the letter nor the people were seen on Monday, despite the Head of Communications reminder message to Mr. Obeta, who, in response, affirmed that the people were likely still processing it.
However, moments later on February 23, without reverting, he (Mr. Obeta) published and started peddling a news story he authored on The Leadership Newspaper of that day and on Nairaland, where he alleges that FirstPower levied the villagers N2.1 million to replace the said vandalized facilities.
The news, with the headline “FirstPower Levies Awka Village N2.1m for Replacement of Vandalised Facilities,” was the publication he was making references to at the stakeholders meeting held on Wednesday.
Given the seriousness of the allegation and the damage such publication could cause to the reputation of the Company, the FirstPower Management, on Thursday, invited the leadership of Amudo Community to the Company’s Headquarters the following day for clarification and further inquiry. In the interest of fairness and transparency, since Mr. Obeta was not part of the delegation that came, he was then contacted and invited to attend the meeting, which necessitated its adjournment to a later time when he personally said he would have a chance to attend.
At the reconvened meeting, the Amudo delegation led by the village Chairman, Mr. Nwanna Patrick denied the allegation that FirstPower levied the community any money to repair the transformer, confirming that the Company fully bore the cost of the repair and never levied them a dime. The community leaders explained that the only money contributed by residents (estimated at about ₦600,000 to ₦700,000), was voluntarily raised on their own to install CCTV cameras, solar lights, and additional protective structures around the transformer to prevent further vandalism. They said the money was never levied on them by FirstPower, neither was it a payment to the company or part of the cost for repairing the transformer. They denied being aware of or involved in the publication by Mr. Obeta and the allegations made therein, wondering how he formulated such information.
During the meeting, FirstPower Managing Director again gave the accuser the opportunity to tell his own side of the story, substantiate his publication with evidence or clarify the source of the allegation. The MD further advised him to consider retracting the publication and making an apology if it was untrue, published in error and cannot be proved with evidence.
Alternatively, the MD also advised him to strongly stand by his publication if he’s sure it’s true and has his evidence, as he will be required to substantiate it when the need arises, which will also help in identifying and punishing the people using the company’s name to extort customers, if truly such a thing happened.
However, the accuser, Mr. Obeta, again failed to present any evidence, and thereafter left the meeting before its conclusion.
FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited wishes to state unequivocally that the Company operates with strict adherence to transparency, accountability, and due process, and does not demand or authorise the collection of money from customers for the repair of transformers or other distribution assets.
The Management assures that the investigation into the allegation will continue until the root of the matter is fully established, and that any person found to have engaged in misconduct, false representation, or any act capable of bringing the Company into disrepute will be made to face the full weight of the law.
FirstPower also reassures its customers and the general public of its commitment to responsible service delivery, open engagement, and the protection of the rights and interests of electricity consumers across Anambra State, while urging members of the public to always verify information through official channels before drawing conclusions on matters concerning the Company’s operations.
