Emma Amaize
21 November 2012, Sweetcrude, Warri — PARAMOUNT ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu and the Benin City Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, are flexing muscles over the failure of the power firm to install, connect and commission a private transformer, one year after collecting statutory charges and other fees, amounting to N2.2 million.
Solicitors to the monarch, Seimode and Associates, in a letter, dated October 22, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, BEDC, Mr. E. B. Umoren, said the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in September, last year, released/granted one 300KA,33/0.415KV transformer for the palace annex, situated at Pere-Botu Street, Edjeba, near Warri, to serve the palace and its neighbourhood.
He said that a formal application was made to PHCN for installation, connection and subsequent commissioning, vide a letter, PHCN/26160/BM/ENG/0.1/707/2011, dated, Novemebr 5, 2011, entitled, “Payment of statutory charges”, it conveyed approval.
Mr. Umoren disclosed that the problem over the non-commissioning of the transformer arose out of a bone of contention between the monarch and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Residential Estate in Edjeba.
