By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) says it has taken an ex-staff, Kufre Udoh to court over his alleged involvement in a case of fraud.
Mr Eno Emmanuel, Head of Corporate Communications, PHED, made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
He said the ex-staff, through fraudulent means diverted the company’s funds and engaged in other infractions.
“Kufre Udoh, 40, an ex-staff of PHED has been slammed with a four-count charge before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
“The ex-staff was earlier arrested by officers of the Police Command in Rivers, for multiple infractions and fraudulent diversion of PHED’s funds and thereafter charged to court.
“Notable amongst the counts contained in the charge sheet was the charge of obtaining financial rewards by false pretense,” he stated.
Emmanuel said the company was currently grappling with corrupt practices that have adversely affected the company’s revenue portfolio.
According to him, PHED was faced with challenges of energy theft, vandalism, meter tampering and bypass, assault of staff and invasion of its substations by hoodlums.
“To this end, the Managing Director of PHED, Henry Ajagbawa, severally warned and threatened that vandals and others against untoward activity with legal actions.
“Ajagbawa had also embarked on PHED’s franchise states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states, to sensitise staff, to adhere strictly to the company’s core values.
“The managing director had also warned staff to refrain from acts that are inimical to the growth of PHED,” he said.
The PHED spokesman further stated that Ajagbawa had warned both staff and customers that the company has zero tolerance to theft and other fraudulent activities.
“So, any misdemeanours that negatively impact on the company will be met by every legal means, to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others,” he warned.
PHED, Emmanuel said, currently supplies electricity to 14 million customers in its franchise states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers. (NAN)
