An investigation conducted by The Calabash Newspaper has uncovered allegations that Ogha Toochukwu and Samuel, owners of Peak Electrical/Electronic a Nigerian-owned business operating in Sierra Leone, with its head office situated on 17 Regent Road, by Goderich Street in Freetown, has been involved in the importation and sale of electrical cables suspected of being counterfeit RR Cables.
The allegations have raised fresh concerns about the circulation of suspected counterfeit electrical products on the Sierra Leonean market and the potential risks they could pose to consumers, electricians, businesses and property.
According to information obtained by The Calabash Newspaper, Peak Electrical/Electronic operates from several locations with business addresses in Bo and Kenema.
The locations identified include 38 Dambala Road, Bo, opposite Albertson Supermarket; 32 Dambala Road, Bo; Box Point 20 Bojon Street, Bo; beside Union Trust Bank on 5 Jany Street, Kenema; and St. James Secondary School.
Among the products identified during the investigation is a cable bearing markings purporting to identify it as an RR Kablo product.
The latest allegations come against the backdrop of previous concerns over suspected counterfeit RR Cables circulating in Sierra Leone.
In an earlier report, The Calabash Newspaper reported allegations involving businesses in Freetown accused of selling suspected counterfeit RR Cables.
According to that report, the Sierra Leone Police had reportedly acted on intelligence concerning suspected counterfeit RR products and conducted operations at business premises linked to the allegations.
Individuals were reportedly invited to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning, while several rolls of electrical cables suspected of being counterfeit RR products were reportedly seized during the operations.
The reported seizures and investigations have heightened concerns about how suspected counterfeit electrical products may be entering and circulating within the local market.
The allegations involving Peak Electrical/Electronic also come amid public warnings concerning the authenticity of RR Cables in Sierra Leone.
Following this developments, SV Electrical – Sierra Leone’s Trusted Source for Genuine RR Cables,” SV Electrical warned consumers about suspected counterfeit RR Cables allegedly circulating in the country.
According to the company, it has been the exclusive importer and distributor of authentic RR Cables in Sierra Leone since 2019.
SV Electrical identified its reported official outlets as its premises on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown and Hastings Junction, while urging consumers to exercise caution when purchasing RR-branded electrical cables from other sources.
The company warned that counterfeit cables may be manufactured using inferior materials and could potentially overheat, spark or contribute to electrical fires.
SV Electrical consequently encouraged consumers to verify the source and authenticity of electrical cables before making purchases.
The circulation of suspected counterfeit electrical cables is a matter of public safety, as electrical wiring forms an essential component of residential, commercial and industrial installations.
Electrical experts have warned that substandard cables can present significant risks when their materials, insulation, conductivity and load-bearing capacity do not meet required standards.
Such products may potentially contribute to overheating, short circuits, electrical faults and fires, particularly when they are used in installations requiring cables capable of safely carrying specified electrical loads.
The issue therefore extends beyond trademark protection and commercial competition to broader concerns about ensuring that electrical materials placed on the Sierra Leonean market meet applicable safety and quality requirements.
The allegations surrounding Peak Electrical/Electronic also raise questions about the supply chain through which RR-branded cables enter Sierra Leone, including their country of manufacture, import documentation, distribution channels and verification procedures.
Determining whether the identified cables are genuine would require appropriate technical and documentary verification, including examination of the products and, where necessary, confirmation from the manufacturer or authorized distributor.
Consumers are meanwhile advised to exercise caution when purchasing branded electrical products and to request information about their source and authenticity, particularly where products appear significantly cheaper than comparable products sold through authorized distributors.
The Calabash Newspaper is seeking a response from Peak Electrical/Electronic regarding the allegations, including the source of the identified cables, the company’s authorization to distribute RR-branded products and any documentation demonstrating their authenticity.
