Tension is rising in Uteh Ekoko, a community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, after residents staged a street demonstration over what they described as the mismanagement of more than N15 million raised to buy a transformer.
The upset residents took their grievances to the Edo State council secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists during a peaceful march. They displayed placards bearing messages like “Say no to looting of landlords and landladies funds,” “Our eye don open,” and “Uteh Ekoko, bring back our transformer,” while calling on the Edo State government to wade into the dispute.
Mr. Ifeanyi Amiodo, who spoke for the protesters, said every household in the area paid N40,000, while a few others paid N80,000, totaling over N15 million meant to procure a transformer to boost power supply. Amiodo alleged that the money was handled by a committee but claimed that the Landlords Association Chairman of the community, Mr. Henry Edo, and the Transformer Committee Chairman, Mr. Onwugbufor Celestine, misappropriated the funds.
The contribution drive, which covered more than 300 households, realized about N12.16 million from roughly 304 residents based on separate tallies from community members. The original plan was to buy a brand-new transformer, but the arrangement reportedly changed after the committee learned of a 500KVA transformer said to have been made available through an unnamed public official. The committee later approved buying the transformer for N6 million, which residents said was the final resolution reached at a general meeting of the landlord and landlady forum.
Amiodo further claimed that when they began raising objections, they were branded suspected cultists. He also accused Mr. Henry Edo of threatening to use his government connections to demolish their homes on the grounds that the buildings were used for cult-related activities. “For about a month and 11 days now, we have been on this issue, but all we keep getting is a printout of the money spent, which we opposed. We insist that a bank statement should be provided instead to clear our doubts,” Amiodo said.
Anxiety has grown since the transformer was delivered, with many residents alleging that the equipment is not meant for residential areas and may be an industrial type, casting doubt on its suitability for household electricity distribution. The demonstrators are asking for a full financial breakdown and an independent audit of the procurement process, as well as an explanation on the whereabouts of the balance of the funds.
Reacting to the accusations, Landlords Association Chairman Mr. Henry Edo dismissed any wrongdoing and maintained that all financial documents are complete. He said the records were earlier presented to the community at a committee of the whole meeting where the committee was praised for doing a good job. Edo, who recounted that he was attacked and disgraced by some community members, described the treatment meted out to him as victimization.
Transformer Committee Chairman Mr. Onwugbufor Celestine also insisted he did nothing wrong, emphasizing that he has all records of the expenditures.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, while addressing the protesters, advised them to stay peaceful and guard against hijackers taking over their protest. He equally appealed to relevant authorities and stakeholders to step in to guarantee accountability and rebuild trust in the community-led project.
