Human rights organization, Eagle Brain, claims Kaduna Electric violates consumer rights, seeks refunds

Eagle Brain, Human Rights Organization has accused the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric) of extensive and systemic infringements on the rights of electricity consumers, citing exploitative billing practices, unauthorized meter fees, and violations of regulations impacting thousands of customers in its service area.

In a formal petition dated January 13, 2026, addressed to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Kaduna Electric, the organization requested immediate clarifications, refunds, and rectifications, warning that failure to respond within 14 days could lead to legal action and notifications to various regulatory and anti-corruption bodies.

The petition, signed by Executive Director Comrade Daniel Ejembi, stated that Eagle Brain has received numerous complaints backed by documented evidence and personal testimonies from consumers in Kaduna State and surrounding areas served by the company.

The organization alleged that Kaduna Electric has unlawfully forced customers to pay for electricity meters, despite directives from the government and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) stating that such meters should be provided at no cost. Additionally, it claimed that customers were incorrectly assigned to higher tariff bands, resulting in inflated billing that does not accurately reflect their actual usage.

Further accusations included the arbitrary and unilateral adjustment of customers’ agreed monthly repayment plans, increasing amounts from ₦1,000 to anywhere between ₦3,000 and ₦33,000 without prior notice, consultation, or regulatory approval.

Eagle Brain also contended that the company improperly passed on the cost of replacing burnt or faulty meters to consumers, even when such incidents were the result of transformer issues, line surges, or failures within Kaduna Electric’s infrastructure.

The petition asserted that these actions contravene numerous regulatory standards, including NERC’s Customer Protection Regulations 2023, the Service-Based Tariff framework, the Order on Capping of Estimated Bills, and rules regarding the complimentary replacement of defective meters.

Additionally, the organization pointed to purported breaches of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which outlaw unfair commercial practices, coercion, and cost-shifting due to the service provider’s faults.

Eagle Brain indicated that these alleged practices have inflicted significant financial strain on consumers, especially low-income families, while undermining public confidence in the electricity distribution sector.

Among its demands, the organization requested that Kaduna Electric refund all charges for meters collected since 2015, including interest, perform an independent review of tariff classifications, correct excessive bills, and revert debt repayment plans to their original agreements.

It also called for the complimentary replacement of meters damaged due to network faults, refunds for customers who have already paid for such replacements, and the creation of an independent, accessible customer complaint resolution mechanism under regulatory supervision.

Furthermore, Eagle Brain urged Kaduna Electric to issue a public statement informing consumers of their rights as per NERC regulations and the FCCPA.

The group cautioned that non-compliance with its demands within 14 days would result in legal proceedings and petitions to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other authorities.

The petition was also sent to the Minister of Power, the Kaduna State Governor, the leadership of the National Assembly on power, as well as various civil society and media organizations.

At the time of this report, there had been no official response from Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company regarding the allegations.