A former staff of the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc. and a leading member of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr. Kelechi Samuel Nnatah has been fingered as the brain behind the destruction of the power distribution company’s facilities and has been accused of fraud, economic sabotage and sundry offences for destroying critical electrical infrastructures belonging to PHED.
Recall that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Plc had a few days ago intercepted and impounded some haulage trucks for destroying its facilities at the Onne axis in Rivers State.
According to information available to this medium, the electricity distribution company has petitioned the Police Commissioner on the matter alleging that the culprit had surreptitiously presented himself to the management of Gonsocsna as a staff of PHED and to the military officers he engaged to escort the haulage trucks as a consultant to PHED.
He assured all parties that every documentation required for the safe passage of the haulage trucks had been secured.
The radical unionist who is fierce in his union activities succeeded in employing the services of military personnel under the guise that he is engaging them to secure the trucks from restive youths in the communities along their routes. But when the officer in-charge of the command sought to know from him, specifically, if he has secured the requisite approval from PHED for the journey, he falsely answered in the affirmative.
Kelechi Samuel, under this pretense negotiated and collected N7 million from Gonsocsna Nigeria Limited assuring them that he has the authority of PHED to adjust, remove and shift the cables and wires belonging to PHED that may obstruct the trucks from passing though PHED network.
When the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Nigerian Army 6 Division, Borri Camp, Port Harcourt discovered that Kelechi lied to him, he immediately withdrew his men from escorting the haulage trucks.
Also, the case was reported to Eligbum Divisional Police Station and some policemen were sent from there by the Division Station Officer to stop the trucks. Unfortunately, it was alleged that Mr. Kelechi later paid himself out at the Eligbum Divisional Police Station and illegally secured the services of some policemen to escort the trucks. They then continued with their movement destroying PHED facilities and distribution network until they arrived Igbo Etche in Etche Local Government Area where the youth of the community halted them because they had plunged the entire community into darkness.
Investigation also revealed that he engaged the services of an electrician who was caught on an electric pole illegally disconnecting cables crossing the road to enable the trucks pass freely. It was at Igbo Etche that the youth apprehended the trucks and representatives of Gonsocsna Nigeria Limited were arrested and handed over to the police. It was later discovered that Kelechi had disappeared. The police are presently on his trail.
Meanwhile, the PHED networks affected by the destruction include: Igbo Etche 33KV Feeder B and Zenith 11KV Feeder, including materials like LT RC poles, HT RC poles, digging and backfilling pole and several other equipment estimated to be running into millions of naira.
According to Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, MD/CEO of PHED, it is disheartening to learn that an ex-staff and a union member who ought to be an embodiment of morals, good conduct and respect for rules is the architect of this monumental case of economic sabotage and fraud.
He warned that members of the public especially corporate organisations should be more circumspect when they engage people to handle certain assignments for them.
Mr. Kelechi’s offence, if proven in the court of law according to Section 9 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act could attract live imprisonment or as in Section 10 of the same Act, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years.
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