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The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6 Calabar in Cross River State, Mr. Usman Sule Gomna has illegally arrested and detained Engr. Collins Igwe the Regional Manager of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc, Calabar region.
Engr. Igwe who in the course of his normal duties got detained and arrested by the power-drunk AIG over the disconnection of electricity supply to Zone 6 for their failure to pay their accumulated electricity bills of about N31M owed the DisCo over the years.
We gathered that the AIG invited Engr Igwe to a meeting with his team to discuss the way forward on their indebtedness to PHED so that power could be restored to the zone. Unfortunately, he ordered his men to arrest and detain Engr Igwe boasting that he will not release him until power is restored to the zone. Meanwhile, all attempts to get the AIG to release the PHED staff who acted in lawful authority fell on deaf ears.
It is unimaginable that a public officer holding such an exalted seat will abuse the privilege of his office by unlawfully arresting and detaining an innocent Nigerian in the course of discharging his official duties. Sadly, the office of the AIG is indebted to the Disco in excess of N30miilion an amount accrued over the years for unpaid bills.
It is common knowledge that the distribution companies in Nigeria are now privatized and must be able to generate sufficient revenue like every other business to run effectively.
What beats us is the effrontery of the AIG in carrying out this arrest.
As a DisCo, we are using this opportunity to let Nigerians know that electricity is not a right or privilege but rather like every other service that must be paid for. The AIG must therefore save himself further embarrassment by ensuring that he pays his bills like every law-abiding Nigerian and desist from such unlawful acts.