A 31-year-old man, Alison Maduaburochukwu, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Awka, Anambra State, for allegedly assaulting an official of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) while carrying out his legitimate duty.

A statement issued by the EEDC Head of Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said that Maduaburochukwu was on Tuesday, August 28, slammed with a two-count charge of assault and threat to life. The statement disclosed that Maduaburochukwu was disconnected for nonpayment of electricity bill, but instead of going ahead to pay his bill, resorted to physically assaulting the EEDC official, chasing him out of the compound and threatening to kill him with machete if he failed to leave the compound.

According to the statement, as a result of the slap unleashed on the EEDC official, he has been having difficulty with hearing in one of his ears.

The accused was however granted bail and the case adjourned to the October 8, 2019.

Ezeh went further to recall that just recently, the duo of Nonso Amadi and Chibuzor Okafor, were arraigned before Magistrate Court 3, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State for assaulting a staff of EEDC in Nkpor, Anambra State, while they were going about their legitimate duties.

“We are no longer going to tolerate situations where our staff are being assaulted by anyone while carrying out their daily operations, and the Management of EEDC is ready to follow through any such case and ensure we get justice,” Ezeh said.

He went on to recount several occasions where customers released their dogs on staff, and situations where they were threatened at gun point by indebted customers, insisting that they reconnect them.

“In some cases, these staff are pulled down from the ladder while they are still on the pole, and attacked with harmful objects such knife.

“We are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our staff, especially when they are carrying out their lawful duties; and we are ever ready to protect them and prosecute anyone or group that assaults them.

“We commend the judiciary for the speedy attention given to this matter and are optimistic that this will definitely serve as deterrent to other people that engage in such act,” he said.

Ezeh encouraged customers to always follow the established redress mechanism approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to channel their complaints. The regulation also provides opportunity to escalate issues to the nearest NERC Forum Office within their area, for further intervention.