By Patrick Andrew
Abuja
Unguwar Hausawa community, Nyanya, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has petitioned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) demanding compensation from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over the death, by electrocution, of three members of the community.
The incident which occurred on April 12, when a high tension electric cable fell on a residential building leading to the death of six-year-old Hassan Umar Tsafe and Umaimah Umar Tsafe (son and wife of Malam Umar Tsafe) and Malam Ali Umar, a neighbour.
In the petition, the community claimed that the unfortunate death of the three persons was as a result of “intentional negligence by the AEDC and its staff.”
The petition, which was signed by Sarkin Hausawa of Nyanya, Alhaji Musa Ishaq Muhammad Dala and Abubakar Hassan, the chairman and secretary respectively, alleged that the firm refused to provide safety mechanism, improper lookout and or supervision and outright negligence and refusing to maintain the high tension cables.
It also alleged that the mishap arose because of the intentional and gross negligence of the AEDC and its staff towards consumers’ complaints and deliberately exposing them to serious danger.
Recalling the ordeal, the community claimed that it reported a pole was faulty to the AEDC which subsequently carried out a partial repair with the intent of later properly fixing the faulty pole. However, when the community noticed the pole was hanging, it called the attention of the AEDC staff to the problem.
“On arrival, the AEDC staff demanded that the sum of N5,000 must be given to them before they can rectify the problem. A member of the community offered to them the sum of N3,000, but they declined insisting that it must be N5,000 or no work and abandoned them.
“This attitude, however, is a prima facie case of serious negligence and lack of concern for human lives and properties from the AEDC staff knowing fully the degree of damage that might result from such,” the petition stated.
