Okon Bassey in Uyo
The operatives of Police Command in Akwa Ibom State have arrested an Uyo-based electrician, Ndifreke Philip Akpan, for alleged attempt on the life of the state Vice Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Eridiong Obong.
Akpan, a native of Iwok in Nsit Atai Local Government Council of the state, was alleged to have led three others to manhandle Obong, his landlord, because he queried the tampering and bypassing of the prepaid electricity meter installed in the flat the suspect rented.
A petition to the state Commissioner of Police by the CLO Vice Chairman titled: ‘Petition of attempted murder, malicious damage and threatening violence’, “calls for holistic investigation.”
He also alleged that the suspect alongside three others inflicted serious injuries on him and his wife while attempting to stop them from packing their belongings out of his house due to his(the suspect) refusal to pay for the damage in the flat he was occupying, which amounted to N147,000.
He said in the petition: “The trio constrained to violence and promised me that in a very short time that I will look for help to take me to the hospital. Sir, true to their words, they used different instruments, including iron rods, padlock, and machete to give me a cut on my head, also on my right arm as well as my wife, Janet Obong, on her neck. I became helpless, as sympathisers rushed me to the hospital.
“As if that was not enough, they have promised to kill me, boasting that they have a Superintendent of Police, and that if I like I should report to the police. I seek the protection of the law through your office.”
Obong, a retiree, in his narration outside the petition, explained that “the guy is an electrician, so he bypassed the meter and used electricity for many years without paying.
“In the course of tampering with the meter, his meter got spoilt. He neither informed me nor the PHED. What he did was to join his light to my own, for God knows when.
“So, when the Meter Inspection Team came in November, they told me that the last time he bought #1000 of electricity was in March. That it’s either he is using my light, or he bypassed the meter. So I decided to do my check.
“I found out that he was using my electricity. That was on November 22, 2023. So I asked him to disconnect it the next day. Because of this incident, I blocked the manhole that was in his apartment so that whenever he wants to have access to the ceiling, I will know.
“He had told me on December 16 that he’s packing out in three days’ time. That evening, he came and packed the first trip of his load, using his younger brother’s mini bus.
“So on December 17, very early, they came and started parking.
“All of a sudden I heard a loud knocking from his apartment, not knowing he wanted to break open the manhole I had sealed. The next thing, I saw flash of light in the ceiling, then I saw Ndifreke inside the ceiling. I then asked him why he broke and entered my ceiling, he then asked me if I had informed him that I blocked the manhole. I asked him if he’s the owner of the house, he then asked me to go to court.
“At this point, I turned and went into his flat, I discovered that he has broken the ceiling from the dining area of his apartment to gain access into the ceiling. I was there complaining, the brother Nseabasi wanted to attack me. Then Ndifereke told me that they will take me to hospital.
“I quickly sensed what he meant and left there, I went to lock the gate, then he rushed out to hold the padlock while he wife started hitting me from there. The brother, Nseabasi, moved the bus, and hit me to the gate with the intention to crush me, that was how the fight started.
“In the process, four of them were pounding me; Nseabasi held my two hands to the back, and Ndifreke and Mkpoikanke were hitting me on the head with padlock, stones and all manners of things. I sustained head injuries, and my wife was also hit on the head. Up till now, I find difficult to open my jaws fully, while I’m still getting treatment for internal injuries in my head.”
As at the time of writing the report the suspect is yet to be charged to court, although the matter has been under investigation.
