CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
There was tension in Aboru, Lagos, after officials of Ikeja Electric went to disconnect electricity supply in an area where residents say they hardly get light and the visit allegedly ended in violence.
A 55-year-old landlord, Ebodi Francis, has now been arraigned before the Ikeja Magistrate Court over the incident.
He pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy, obstruction of public officials and assault.
The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate Mr. L. A. Owolabi following his arrest by police from the Ota-Odo Division, Lagos.
The case, filed as Commissioner of Police vs Ebodi Francis, was prosecuted by SP Josephine Iykayare.
According to the charge sheet signed by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Ajayi Adebayo, the incident allegedly happened on September 30, 2026, at about 3:00 p.m. at No. 22, Olaomotoye Street, Aboru, Lagos State.
The Police alleged that Francis, who is the landlord of the premises, together with others who are still at large, conspired to obstruct public officials and assault them while they were carrying out their lawful duties.
The officials named in the charge were Rasheed Odebunmi and Emmanuel Enyinnaya, both staff of Ikeja Electric, Aboru.
The Police alleged that the officials had gone to the landlord’s premises to disconnect electricity supply over an alleged illegal reconnection.
But residents of the area told our reporter a different side of the story.
According to them, the community has been suffering poor power supply for a long time. They claim they do not get light regularly, yet they continued to receive bills, and officials still come to disconnect.
“We don’t get electricity supply in this area, yet they came to disconnect the light. That is what angered people,” a resident said.
It was during the disconnection exercise, Police claim, that the situation turned violent.
In Count Two, the Police alleged that Francis and others unlawfully resisted and obstructed the two officials by assaulting them and spraying tear gas on them.
In Count Three, the Police alleged that Francis caused stones to be thrown at Rasheed Odebunmi, inflicting serious injuries on his head.
In Count Four, a similar allegation was made in respect of Emmanuel Enyinnaya, who allegedly also sustained head injuries from stones thrown during the incident.
The offences were said to be contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 117(2) and 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
When the charges were read to him in court, the landlord pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following his plea, his counsel applied for bail, urging the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, noting that he is a family man with a fixed address and will not jump bail.
Magistrate Owolabi granted him bail with two sureties.
The court ordered that the two sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment.
The defendant was ordered to be remanded in a correctional centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
As landlord of the house, Francis is said to be responsible for the welfare of his tenants, many of whom depend on electricity for small businesses, for charging phones, for storing food, and for children to read at night.
Residents say when the light is cut, it is the landlord who faces the complaints of tenants first.
For the two Ikeja Electric officials, it was said to be a routine duty that turned into a painful experience. Both men reportedly left the scene with head injuries and had to seek medical attention.
For the accused landlord, the case has now become a fight to clear his name and protect his reputation in the community where he has lived for years.
He is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the court will determine whether the allegations against him can be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Community leaders in Aboru have called for calm, urging landlords and residents not to take laws into their hands when officials come for disconnection, but to follow proper complaint channels at Ikeja Electric or report to the police.
They also urged Ikeja Electric to improve power supply to the area and address billing complaints to avoid future confrontation.
Police sources said investigation is still ongoing to arrest the other suspects said to be at large.
The matter has been adjourned for further hearing.