The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arrested a top official of the Power Holding Companies of Nigeria, PHCN, Engineer Omololu Olusesi Gabriel, for allegedly demanding a bribe of N100, 000 from his customer to install two transformers.
Omololu, Principal Manager, PHCN Abuja Distribution Company Wuse Zone 4, was arrested in a sting operation, following a petition against him.
An impeccable source at the commission, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard that the petitioner had formally applied to purchase and install two transformers, a 100 KVA/33/0.415 KV and a 50 KVA/33/0.415 KV, and had filed his application through the Principal Manager (PC and M) at the said PHCN office.
The source alleged that Omololu on receiving the application, demanded a bribe of N100, 000 for the release of the transformers, of which one of the transformers had been released upon the part payment of N50,000 by the petitioner.
Infuriated by Omololu’s insistence on collecting the balance of N50, 000 as condition to release the second transformer, the petitioner turned to ICPC for succour, and the Commission consequently arrested the suspect as he collected marked money as balance.
Mr Omololu’s schedule of duties as a public officer includes, among others, protection of PHCN installations, testing of electrical equipment and preparation of permission letter for release of transformers, none of which required demand for a fee from customers.
The ICPC operatives were able to establish that the petitioner, indeed, submitted two applications for permission to purchase and install two specifications of transformers, 100 KVA/33/0.451 KV and 50 KVA/33/0.415 to PHCN, and that the petitioner collected one of the approvals upon payment of N50,000.00 demanded by the suspect.
The petitioner was denied the second approval for his inability to provide the balance of N50,000.00.
Vanguard gathered that the PHCN official would be facing prosecution for allegedly contravening section 8 and 10 of the ICPC Act 2000.
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