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 N31m bill on it 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 attention of Zone 6 Police Headquarters Calabar has been drawn to the mendacious publication making the rounds on social media handles that AIG Usman Gomna arrested PHED Regional Manager illegally.

“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 is aware that Zone 6 is a Federal establishment and not the property of the AIG and knows where to channel his outrageous bills to, if any.

“This development is disturbing to the Zone, hence the compelling need to state the true position and disabuse the minds of the public with regards to the publication being circulated,” it said.

It further stated “that the 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.”

The statement 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 said “the act of disconnecting the Zone, or anyone, without prior information is criminal and negates Sections 9 and 10 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act chapter M17. The Zone will definitely approach the NERC with this misconduct.

“Contrary to the speculation on social media, the PHED Regional Manager was never arrested or detained but was asked in a meeting to explain the reason for incessant disconnection of a government establishment that houses detention facility and an armoury office without following the procedures prescribed by the regulatory body.

“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 set target for light never supplied,” it added.

It advised members of the public to disregard “the misleading publication as the law abiding AIG will leave no stone unturned in policing the Zone in accordance with international best practices.” (The PUNCH)

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