Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Two staff of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, have been arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, for stealing the sum of N649,100 from the company.
The suspects, Emmanuel Nimiteim Tailor and Alabo Wokoma, were arraigned for two counts charge bordering on conspiracy, felony and stealing of N649,100 from PHEDC, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 390 (6) of the Criminal Code Law Cap.
The money, our correspondent gathered, were payments made by unsuspecting customers to offset their electricity bills.
The charge reads, “That you Emmanuel Nimiteim Tailor ‘m’, Alabo Wokoma ‘m’ and others now at large in the month of April, 2020 at Easy Pay International Company Limited, Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
“That you Emmanuel Nimiteim Tailor ‘m’ and Alabo Wokoma ‘m’ and others now at large between 13 April, 2020 to 30 March, 2021 in the same place, time and in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did use Wokoma Alabo Ibinabo’s GTBank Account No. 0200582576 to steal the sum of N649,100.00 only property of Port Harcourt Electricity and Distribution Company and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (6) of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
When the charges were read, the suspects, Emmanuel Nimiteim Tailor and Alabo Wokoma, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the accused person, Davis Kinsley, prayed the court to give them opportunity to settle out of court.
The Chief magistrate, Chinwe Nsirim, after listening to the Prosecutor and the Counsel to the accused, granted bail of N500,000 each and one surety each who are respected citizens, with properties within the court’s jurisdiction.
Nsirim adjourned the matter to July 26th 2021, for hearing.
Speaking to newsmen, the Acting Manager, Corporate Communications at PHED, Chioma Aninwe, said the prosecution will serve as a deterrent to others who may want engaged in any form of corruption practices.
Aninwe explained that the management of PHED has been resolute in its resolve to stamped out corruption from the system.
“The Managing Director is resolved to stamped out any form of corrupt practices in terms of defrauding the customer or economic sabotage.
“We hope that this prosecution will served as a deterrent to others, whether staff or customers who conspired with the staff. We are calling on the public to be very vigilant and not to pay money to any account that is not a PHED account.
“We are confident that by the time this matter gets to the end, it will serve as a deterrent to others.”
