By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Police in Akwa Ibom have arrested an Uyo based electrician Ndifreke Philip Akpan for alleged attempt on the life of the state Vice Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organization,CLO, Comrade Eridiong Obong.
Akpan, a native of Iwok in Nsit Atai Local Council of the state was alleged to have led three others to manhandle Obong, his landlord because he querried the tampering and bypass of the prepaid electricity metre 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, call for holistic investigation” 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 damages in the flat he was occupying amounting to N147,000.
“The trio constrained to violence and promised me that in a very short time that I will look for help to take me to hospital. Sir, true to their words they used different instruments including iron rodes, padlock and machete and gave me a cut on my head, also on my right arm and my wife, Janet Obong on her neck. I became helpless and sympathisers rushed me to the hospital.
“As if that was not enough, they have promised to kill me, boasting that they a Supritendent of Police and that if I like I should report to the Police. I seek the protection of the law through your office.” Said the petition.
Obong, a retiree, in his narration outside the petition explained that, “the guy is an electrician, so he bypassed the prepaid meter and used light for years without paying. In the course of tampering with the meter, his meter spoilt. He neither informed me nor PHED. What he did was to join his light to my own, for God knows when.
“So, when 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 light. That was on 22nd November, 2023. So I asked him to disconnect 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 16th December that he’s packing in three days time. That evening, he came and packed the first trip of his load, using his younger brother’s mini bus.
So the next day, Sunday, 17th December, very early they came and started parking.
“All of a sudden I heard 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 break and entered my ceiling, he then asked my if I had informed him that I blocked the manhole. I asked him if he’s the one that build the house for me, 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 if his apartment to gain access into the ceiling. I was there complaining, the brother Nseabasi wanted to attack me. Then Ndifereke told me that that nonsense I am trying to do, 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 and came and hold the padlock, the wife started hitting me from there. The the brother, Nseabasi moved the bus, and jammed 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 hiring 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 difficulty in opening my jaws to the full, while I’m still getting treatment for internal injuries in my head.” He narrated.
He added that the suspect was also alleged to had earlier in November 6th, 2022, led his four brothers and attempted to murder their own cousin, Moses Etukudo Noah who they beat to coma, if not for the quick intervention of some family members who rushed the victim to hospital.
As at the time of writing the report the suspect is yet to be charged to court although the matter has been under investigation.
