The Zone 6 Police Headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, has berated the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, and its zonal Manager, Collins Igwe for slamming a N31 million bill and disconnecting its power supply.
A statement titled ‘RE: Power scandal,’ signed by the spokesman for the zone, Nelson Okpabi, on behalf of the AIG Zone 6, Usman Gomna, said, “The Zone under the dynamic leadership of AIG Usman Sule Gomna psc, has been civil and highly professional in the discharge of its policing duties with respect to human rights. Mr Collins (Igwe) is fully aware that Zone 6 is a Federal establishment not the property of the AIG and knows where to channel his outrageous bills to if any.
“This Zone is a federal establishment not the property or residential quarters of the AIG, that installing an industrial metre in an office that has no factory is fraudulent and a gross violation of customer’s right.”
It added that after a round table agreement on payment modalities in addition to government allocation for electricity, “courtesy of the peace-loving AIG, the zone had not defaulted to warrant disconnection without notification by the PHED against the laid down procedures.”
It noted that the act of disconnecting the formation or anyone without prior information is criminal “and negates sections 9 and 10 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act chapter M17. The Zone will approach the NERC with this misconduct.”
Contrary to the speculation on social media, the police said the PHED Regional Manager was never arrested or detained but was asked in a meeting to explain the reason for the incessant disconnection of a government establishment that houses a detention facility and an armoury office without following the procedures prescribed by the regulatory body.
The force stated, “Labelling such a magnanimous man that agreed to use his money to pay for light that is rarely seen in a government office as ‘power drunk’ is absurd.
“Attributing a bill of N31 million to a man who is barely five months old in the Zone is an aberration and a clear expression of Mr Collins’ loathing for the police in his alleged desire to meet a set target for light never supplied.”
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