…As MD warn against assault on stsff
From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc has lamented the incessant assault suffered by its staff in the hands of members of the public.
The as the Port Harcourt Disco has warned that persons or communities who assault staff of the company will suffer the consequences stipulated by the organisations in-house rules and be prosecuted for justice.
The warning was given in a statement by Mr. John Anonyai, Head, Corporate Communications of PHED.
According to John, the warning was in reaction to a recent assault that caused severe injuries of a staff of the company Mr Itoro Essienobom in Uyo.
He said: “The incident occurred at Oron on December 15, 2021, where two fierce looking men indebted to PHED attacked the lines worker simply because he advised them to make payment to avert possible disconnection”.
He recalled that the Managing Director of PHED, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, had prayed Governments at all levels to establish focused and consolidated legislation to help expedite judicial processes involving criminals and criminal activities in the energy sector with a view to ensuring that justice is delivered to offenders expeditiously.
He revealed that a Magistrate Court in Eket, Akwa Ibom state sentenced two vandals of facilities of the company to four years imprisonment each.
The convicts were sent to serve the jail terms at the Nigerian Correctional Services, Eket.
“The convicts Aniekan Samual Sampson and Akaninyene Samuel had on November 3, 2021 vandalised and stolen cables identified to be XLPE Cables from the UDOFA QIC Sub-station of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc.
“The culprits were sentenced for offences punishable under section 556(1)(1) of the criminal code cap. 38 Vol. 2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 2000”.
However, the Disco spokesman, John said the judgement comes as a relief for PHED in the pursuit of justice over the years.
“It is noteworthy to state that PHED has suffered huge loses, where over 210 Power Transformers of various sizes and other electrical accessories have been vandalized by criminals over the years.
“The MD welcomed the judgement and gave kudos to the judiciary noting that this is the beginning of a new dawn in our fight for justice against business and economic sabotage in the energy sector.
“He (MD) affirmed his belief that this judgement is the antidote needed to combat the existential threat of vandalism and energy theft in the country”.
