Human Rights Group Accuses Kaduna Electric Of Consumer Rights Violations, Demands Refunds
A civil society organization, Eagle Brain Human Rights Organization, has accused the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric) of widespread and systemic violations of electricity consumers’ rights, alleging exploitative billing practices, illegal meter charges, and regulatory breaches affecting thousands of customers across its franchise area.
In a formal petition dated January 13, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Kaduna Electric, the organization demanded urgent explanations, refunds, and corrective actions, warning that failure to comply within 14 days could result in legal action and petitions to multiple regulatory and anti-corruption agencies.
According to the petition signed by the group’s Executive Director, Comrade Daniel Ejembi, Eagle Brain said it had received numerous complaints supported by documentary evidence and firsthand accounts from electricity consumers in Kaduna State and other areas served by the utility company.
The organization accused Kaduna Electric of coercively collecting payments for electricity meters despite government and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directives that meters should be provided free of charge. It also alleged that customers were deliberately or negligently placed in incorrect tariff bands, leading to excessive and unjust billing that does not reflect actual hours of electricity supply.
Other allegations include the unilateral and arbitrary increase of customers’ agreed monthly debt repayment plans, from ₦1,000 to amounts ranging between ₦3,000 and ₦33,000 without notice, consultation, or regulatory approval.
Eagle Brain further accused the distribution company of unfairly shifting the cost of replacing burnt or damaged meters to customers, even when such damage was caused by transformer faults, line surges, or failures within Kaduna Electric’s own network.
The petition claimed that these actions violate several regulatory frameworks, including NERC’s Customer Protection Regulations 2023, Service-Based Tariff framework, the Order on Capping of Estimated Bills, and directives on the free replacement of faulty meters.
The organization also cited alleged violations of the Electricity Act 2023 and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which prohibit unfair commercial practices, coercion, and cost-shifting arising from service provider faults.
According to Eagle Brain, the alleged practices have caused severe financial hardship for consumers, particularly low-income households, while eroding public trust in the electricity distribution system.
Among its demands, the organization called on Kaduna Electric to refund all monies collected for meters since 2015 with interest, conduct an independent audit of tariff classifications, reverse excessive bills, and restore debt repayment plans to their original terms.
It also demanded the free replacement of meters damaged due to network faults, refunds for customers who had already paid for such replacements, and the establishment of an independent and accessible customer complaint resolution mechanism under regulatory oversight.
Additionally, Eagle Brain urged Kaduna Electric to issue a public communication educating customers on their rights under NERC regulations and the FCCPA.
The group warned that failure to meet its demands within 14 days would lead to court action 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 copied to the Minister of Power, the Kaduna State Governor, the National Assembly leadership on power, and several civil society and media organizations.
As of the time of filing this report, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company had not issued an official response to theh allegations.
