In a petition addressed to the management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), demanding urgent investigation of the monarch, aggrieved residents accused him and his cronies of collecting N10,000 each from the over 300 compounds in the community, amounting to about N3million.
The petitioners explained that the money was initially meant for the purchase of transformers for the community but was illegally diverted to "a cabal" led by the traditional ruler.
The petition, which was signed by leader of the aggrieved residents, Mr. Dede Uwa, and dated August 12, 2016, titled: “Complaint Against Illicit and Illegal Cabal Obtaining Money From Our Community Ikot Anwatim Acting as Though They Are Staff of PHED", appealed to relevant authorities to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
According to the petition, "Our ordeal at Ikot Anwatim community started two years ago when our transformer broke down. Our traditional ruler, Ntufam Patrick Bassey, and his cohorts asked us to pay N10,000 levy per compound to enable him procure a brand new transformer, and the money was collected from 300 compounds existing in the community.
"Instead of the traditional ruler purchasing a new transformer as he had said earlier, he went ahead only to bring an old refurbished and fake transformer, which packed up after a few days of installation.
"We were subsequently asked to pay another N12,000 again by the traditional ruler to enable him buy another transformer since the refurbished one that was procured by the cabal got bad but till now, the money has been diverted to his personal pocket".
While accusing PHED of conniving with the traditional ruler to extort money from the people, the group added that the traditional ruler has mobilized thugs who go about disconnecting electricity from compounds which fail to cooperate.
Uwa called on the state commissioner of police to protect his life, stressing that he was now facing serious threat for daring to speak the truth, even as he charged PHED to reconnect his light and that of other members of his community whose houses were disconnected on the orders of the traditional ruler.
He said that, "We want the monies collected from us as fines to be refunded and those whose houses were disconnected to be reconnected. We are not in slave camp and the management of PHED should quickly intervene into the matter, if they have no hand in the matter.
"Our grouse is that these people are not staff of PHED, so, why should they disconnect us, they do not have the power to climb the electricity pole to disconnect consumers in the area".
Reacting to the allegations, the traditional ruler, Ntufam Offiong, who spoke in company of the Youth Leader, Bassey Itah, denied all the allegations levelled against them, stressing that the aggrieved residents led by Dede Uwa were unserious human beings who had never wished the community well.
He said that, "I repaired the old transformer to boost the new one that had lower capacity to supply light in the area. And not everybody paid the money, and to show that they are not serious people, we don't even have up to 300 compounds in this community but rather 160 compounds”.
Also reacting on the issue, Head of PHED in Cross River, Mr. George Chinwo, debunked every allegation levelled against the management of PHED, and urged the warring factions in the area to stop blackmailing the company.
"We do not generate electricity. We buy gas, and for us to recoup our money, bills must be paid because bills payment is sacrosanct. PHED had no connection with whatever that is happening with collection of money in Ikot Anwatim community," Chinwo explained.
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