Mkpoikana Udoma
18 May 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — A staff of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, who was arrested and remanded in prison custody last weekend for disconnecting power supply to the house of a renowned Human Rights Lawyer in Rivers State, Barr. Higher King, has been released.
SweetCrude Reports gathered that trouble brewed when the staffer of PHEDC disconnected power supply from the home of Barr. Higher King, at D/Line in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The human rights lawyer had arrested the electricity worker for unlawfully disconnecting his power supply, saying that it is an offence to disconnect the power supply of any Nigerian without three months disconnection notice.
Barr. King had also obtained a court order to remand the unfortunate PHEDC staff in prison custody, since the staff could not be arraigned in court, following the disruption of legal activities at Rivers State High Court complex by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs.
Briefing newsmen, the famous Human Rights Advocate said that by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, the Disco staff faces up to three years in jail with N500,000 fine as a second consistent offender.
Barr. King explained that what he is doing was not for himself, but for the benefit of all Nigerians to know their rights, and the fact that they can arrest any power distribution company staff, for disconnecting their power without three months notice.
“It is an offence to disconnect the power supply to the residence, office, company or industry of any Nigerian without three months disconnection notice,” Barr. King stated.
Meanwhile, the management of the Port Harcourt Electrity Distribution Company has refused to comment on the matter.
When contacted, the Head, Corporate Communications of PHED, Mr. John Onyi, who confirmed that the staff has been released, said the company will react at appropriate time.
