Peak Electrical/Electronic has come under intense scrutiny following an investigation by The Calabash Newspaper into the sale of electrical cables bearing the RR brand, amid allegations that suspected counterfeit products are being marketed through outlets associated with the company in Sierra Leone.
The investigation has raised serious questions about the source of the RR-branded kables, their importation into the country and whether Peak Electrical/Electronic has the necessary manufacturer or distribution authorization to sell products carrying the RR identity.
Peak Electrical/Electronic, reportedly owned by Ogha Toochukwu and Samuel, is a Nigerian-owned business operating in Sierra Leone. Its head office has been identified at 17 Regent Road, by Goderich Street in Freetown, while information gathered by this medium points to additional business locations in Bo and Kenema.
Among the locations identified are 38 Dambala Road, opposite Albertson Supermarket in Bo; 32 Dambala Road, Bo; Box Point, 20 Bojon Street, Bo; and an outlet beside Union Trust Bank at 5 Jany Street in Kenema. Another location associated with the business was identified around St. James Secondary School.
At the centre of the investigation are electrical cables carrying markings purporting to identify them with the RR brand. One of the products identified carried RR Kablo-related markings, prompting further questions about its manufacturer, supplier and route into Sierra Leone.
However, the appearance of the product within the company’s reported distribution network has added to existing concerns about suspected counterfeit RR-branded electrical cables circulating in Sierra Leone.
The Calabash Newspaper had previously investigated allegations involving businesses suspected of trading in counterfeit RR-branded kables in Freetown. Information obtained during that investigation indicated that the Sierra Leone Police acted on intelligence relating to suspected counterfeit RR products and conducted operations at business premises connected to the allegations.
Several individuals were reportedly invited to the Criminal Investigation Department for questioning, while quantities of electrical cables suspected of carrying counterfeit RR branding were reportedly seized for further investigation.
The latest findings involving Peak Electrical/Electronic have therefore shifted attention to another important part of the issue: the supply chain through which RR-branded products are imported and distributed across the country.
A key question is whether Peak Electrical/Electronic can produce documentary evidence establishing the source of the kables it reportedly sells.
SV Electrical, which says it has been the exclusive importer and distributor of genuine RR Cables in Sierra Leone since 2019, has previously cautioned the public about suspected counterfeit RR-branded kables allegedly circulating on the local market.
According to SV Electrical, its recognized outlets are located on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown and at Hastings Junction. The company has advised customers purchasing RR-branded electrical materials elsewhere to verify their authenticity.
That position places greater importance on establishing the precise source of the RR-branded cables associated with Peak Electrical/Electronic.
Among the questions requiring answers are whether Peak Electrical/Electronic obtained the products directly from the RR manufacturer or an authorized supplier; whether it possesses invoices and importation records for the kables; whether manufacturer certificates or distributorship documents exist; and whether the products have undergone appropriate standards and safety verification in Sierra Leone.
Producing those records could provide important evidence capable of confirming or challenging the allegations.
The issue extends beyond questions of trademarks and competition between businesses. The authenticity and quality of electrical cables can have direct consequences for homes, offices, businesses and construction projects.
Electrical cables that do not meet required specifications may pose safety concerns, particularly where conductor size, insulation, electrical resistance or load capacity falls below the standards represented on the product.
Substandard cables can potentially overheat or contribute to short circuits and other electrical failures. That makes independent technical testing particularly important before a final determination is made regarding the products identified during the investigation.
Relevant authorities could examine the conductor material and dimensions, insulation, resistance, load capacity and other specifications of the cables. Such testing, combined with scrutiny of customs declarations, invoices, certificates of origin and manufacturer documentation, could establish both the quality and source of the products.
The investigation has also brought renewed attention to market surveillance and the controls applied to imported electrical materials in Sierra Leone.
With branded electrical products passing through different importers, wholesalers and retailers before reaching consumers, effective customs checks, standards verification and market inspections remain important safeguards against counterfeit and substandard goods.
Electricians, contractors, property developers and ordinary consumers are therefore encouraged to exercise caution when purchasing branded electrical materials. Receipts and other transaction records should be retained, while buyers with doubts about a product’s authenticity can seek verification from the manufacturer, authorized distributor or appropriate regulatory authority.
The Calabash Newspaper is seeking a formal response from Peak Electrical/Electronic and is giving the company an opportunity to address the allegations.
In particular, Peak Electrical/Electronic is being called upon to clarify where its RR-branded kables originate, identify its suppliers and explain the importation and distribution arrangements under which the products are being sold in Sierra Leone.
The company also has an opportunity to produce invoices, customs documentation, certificates, manufacturer authorization or other verifiable records demonstrating that the RR-branded products it reportedly sells are genuine and obtained through legitimate channels.
The Calabash Newspaper will continue pursuing the matter in the public interest and remains open to publishing the full response of Peak Electrical/Electronic, together with any documentary or technical evidence the company may provide concerning the source, authenticity and quality of the RR-branded cables under investigation.
