The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) is currently at the center of a scandal involving alleged theft of an electricity transformer belonging to Ifa Atai community in Etoi clan of Uyo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.
Information has it that sometime in 2022, the transformer was taken away from the community by PHEDC for repairs but was later declared missing by same PHEDC when some residents went to take it back.
Corroborating the information, three residents of the community, Nsima Andy, Joseph Ukpe, Uduak Ikpat and Iniobong Udo, through their legal representative, Effiong Udofia Esq of Dara Chambers, explained that the transformer, after being taken away, was said to have been duly repaired. But the power distribution company thereafter withheld it, insisting the community offset an outstanding debt totalling about Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira.
“With the arrival of the new distribution manager, our clients briefed him of the situation. The Distribution Manager
authorized the release and installation of the repaired transformer at our clients estate. Our clients went with a crane to pick the transformer but the transformer could not be found where it was supposed to be,” the petition addressed to the Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Managing Director, PHEDC, Mosciw Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Regional Manager, PHEDC, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo; and the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, revealed.
Months later elapsed and PHEDC could not produce the missing transformer.
The petition however divulged that in December 2022, one Engr Enyia of the Uyo office of PHEDC informed the petitioners that the transformer was sighted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The information has however not led to the recovery of the said transformer.
The petition dated 20th March, 2023, appealed to the relevant authorities copied, to ensure that the missing property is found and returned.
It however warned that the petitioners will resort to seeking legal redress if the situation persists.
PHEDC could not be reached for its reaction to the development as calls and text messages sent to the company’s customer care lines were unanswered.
©Ofonime Honesty