IBEDC says No staff Docked Over Ilesa crisis
The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc. (IBEDC) has denied the allegations that three of its staff were arraigned at the Osogbo Magistrate Court 3 for setting ablaze IBEDC office in Ilesha.
Mrs. Angela Olarenwaju, Head, Corporate Communications and Strategy of IBEDC said this in a statement on Wednesday, 3rd April 2019.
According to IBEDC, the publication is not the true reflection of what transpired in the Court or what was on the charge sheet. The arraigned trio are Bidemi Adebisi aged 39 years old; a Lottery Agent, Philip Sunday aged 19 and Adeyemi Sunday aged 17 years old; who are both spare parts apprentices who claimed to have been arrested from their shops.
It was further gathered that, the accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge and they were remanded in Ile-Ife prison as they could not meet up with their bail conditions.
IBEDC further clarifies that there is no part of the six-count charge linking the arraigned persons to the employment of IBEDC. As a matter of policy and fact, IBEDC does not employ or engage underaged persons to work and in this case, two of the arraigned persons are underage.
Economic Confidential recalls that a group of youths in Ilesha, Osun state last month staged a violent protest over disconnection of electricity in the town by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The protest which began on Sunday evening, took a new dimension next day (Monday) as the aggrieved youths barricaded major roads, preventing vehicular movement.
Some journalists who went to cover the protest were also attacked with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons while their cameras were damaged beyond repair.
Mr Rafiu Muhammad of TV Continental and his cameraman, Taiwo Adu, as well as Channels TV reporter, Shittu Abdulfatai and his camera man, were attacked by the irate youths, while their cameras were also destroyed.
Some of the youths from Olomilagba and Bolorunduro communities in Obokun Local Government Area of the state had on March 14, stormed the Ilesha business hub of IBEDC protesting what they described as “crazy bills’’.
During the protest, the IBEDC management alleged that the protesting youths attacked their staff and made away with unspecified amount of money.
As a result of the attack, IBEDC disconnected electricity supply to the communities which led to the violent protest.