Police, PHEDC Clash Over N31 million Electricity Bill

The Zone 6 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police in Calabar, Cross River State and the management of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company are at loggerheads over a N31 million electricity bill.

This follows reports that the Regional Manager of the PHEDC, Collins Igwe, was allegedly arrested by the police.

The reason for arrest is alleged to be the disconnection of the police headquarters by the management of PHEDC without prior notice.

However, the management of the Zone 6 command has dispelled the claims by the management of the PHEDC.

In his reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State, Nelson Okpabi, said that at no time was the Regional Manager of PHEDC arrested by Assistant Inspector-General Usman Gonna.

He insisted that the AIG is law abiding and he discharges his duties in line with best practices.

Giving a background of the dispute with the PHEDC, Okpabi said, “The zone is a federal establishment, not the property or residential quarters of the AIG. Installing an industrial metre in an office that has no factory is fraudulent and a gross violation of customer’s right. The act of disconnecting the zone or anyone without prior information is criminal and it negates section 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 he was asked in a meeting to explain the reason for the disconnection of a government establishment that houses detention facility and an armoury office without following the procedures prescribed by the regulatory body.

“Attributing a bill of N31million to a man who is barely five months-old in the zone is an abberration and a clear expression of Mr Collins loathing for the Police, hence his desire to defraud the zone in the name of meeting a set target for light never