By TINA TIMOTHY

Sequel to an earlier notice of June 7, 2022, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has threatened to drag Aba Power Limited Electric (APL Electric) an agent of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), for erecting a high tension pole close to the residential building of her client, Miss Deborah Blessing Ogolo, at 18A Pepple Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia.

FENRAD said it had notified the company of the illegal erection of the high tension pole close to its client residence constituted a health hazard and infringement on her right to free movement, warning that after seven days of this reminder, the environmental group would sue the APL Electric.

In a letter dated Thursday July 14, 2022, which was addressed to the Managing Director of APL Electric, titled “Intention to sue within seven days,” and signed by her Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor and Head, Corporate Accountability and Human Rights Enforcement, Barr. Femisi Akande, FENRAD reiterated that the illegal erection of the high tension pole was creating serious environmental and health hazard to the building as well as its occupants, and, as such, the group would head to court if there was no reasonable response or action from APL Electric.

FENRAD wrote in the letter: “Following our letter Ref NO; FENRAD/ADMIN/01/ABA POWER/002 dated June 7, 2022 served your company on 9th June 2022, bringing to your notice, case of illegal erection of high tension poles close to our client’s living house at 18A Pepple Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, occasioned by illegal activities of the agents of EEDC.

“We, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) and an Environmental Human Rights organization, having seen no correspondence or reasonable action on the part of your organization, serve you this letter of intent.

“It bears repeating that our client Miss Deborah Blessing Ogolo and her family who reside in 18A Pepple’s have her rights of way infringed by EEDC due to illegal erection of High Tension Poles in front of their House, thereby creating a serious Environmental and Health Hazard to the Building and its occupants.”

The group has, therefore, vowed to “explore all legal facilities and framework within the law’ to fight for Ogolo’s rights to life and rights to movement, to ensure justice is served, irrespective of her gender or financial status, following the elapsing of the initial seven days’ notice served APL Electric stating, ‘seven days following this notice of intent, you shall be hearing from us in court.’”

FENRAD further wrote: “Miss Deborah Blessing Ogolo is a peace-loving woman who deserves not to be intimidated or treated in the manner she was treated by EEDC on whatever ground or status be such gender or monetary regarding her rights to life and right to movement over the erection of illegal High Tension poles in front of her family house and along her Right of Way without recourse to Environmental Impact Assessment and other existing legislation.

“Our intention bearing in mind that the initial seven days notice served you earlier has elapsed is to remind you that seven days following this notice of intent, you shall be hearing from us in court. We have in our initial letter every document pertaining the illegal erection of the high tension pole to the said property and including our own Environmental Impact Assessment of the damage and other associated health risks brought to our client and her family by the unlawful activities of EEDC which the negative and unfriendly environmental activities hampered our clients access to her property and Right of Way.”

It said that it would explore all shall explore all legal facilities and framework within the law to seek redress for its client; and expressed its willingness to “follow up this matter up to the apex court to ensure justice is served to our client.”

“We have briefed our legal team and we shall be having a day (and perhaps some more) with your organization in court. If you continue to treat with contempt our correspondences after seven days this letter of intent (to sue) is served to your organization,” the letter, copied to several regulatory and law enforcement agencies, threatened.

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