The management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc has cried out for justice for their staff who were allegedly assaulted in Calabar, Cross River State by a customer, Mr. Richard Akinaka.
It was gathered that Akinaka, with account number 851192190101, Road 6, Ibom Close, Ibom Layout, Calabar, had on July 13, 2021, allegedly assaulted and locked up staff of PHED who were on the official monthly meter reading assignment on his premises.
According to the DisCo, Akinika accosted the staff and an exchange ensued.
With the aid of some persons working for him, Akinika was alleged to have beaten up the PHED staff and held them hostage for many hours.
According to the DisCo, it took the intervention of the PHED Zonal head, the company’s lawyers, the police and men of the Civil Defence Corp to free its staff.
PHED in two separate petitions dated July 13, 2021, had approached the ministry of justice and the state commissioner of police on the matter asking for urgent investigation of the matter and subsequent prosecution of Akinaka.
“Regrettably, the matter has not received the required attention as the police has been evasive and has refused to charge the matter to court.
“PHED’s unending pain is that such incidences remain a recurring decimal amongst our workforce which deprives them of their fundamental human rights against lawless hands.
“More so, as the days goes-by without any hope for respite, it becomes glaring that the law is either selective or incapable of protecting our workers.
“Hence, we make a passionate call to all concerned authorities to rise to the challenge and stem the tide of impunity against selfless workers,” the DisCo said in a statement.
