An Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) sting operation has netted a top official of the Power
Holding Companies of Nigeria (PHCN), Engineer Omololu Olusesi Gabriel,
who allegedly demanded a bribe of N100,000 from a PHCN customer to
install two transformers.
Omololu, who held the position of Principal Manager, PHCN Abuja
Distribution Company Wuse Zone 4, is to be prosecuted for contravening
Sections 8 and 10 of the ICPC Act 2000.
A statement by ICPC’s Head of Media, Folu Olamiti, said the
petitioner had 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 PHCN office.
Upon receiving the application, the petitioner alleged, Omololu
demanded a bribe of N100,000 for the release of one of the transformers,
and subsequently took a down payment of N50,000.
Infuriated by Omololu’s insistence on collecting the balance of
N50,000 as a condition for releasing the second transformer, the
petitioner then turned to ICPC, which put the sting operation into play
and arrested the engineer after he collected marked money.
“Mr. Omololu’s schedule of duties as a public officer, include among
others: protection of PHCN installations, testing of electrical
equipment and preparation of permission letter for release of
transformers, none of which required him to demand a fee from
customers,” Mr. Olamiti said.
He added that the ICPC operatives were able to establish that the
petitioner had indeed submitted two applications for permission to
purchase and install the two transformers, and that he collected one of
the approvals upon payment of the N50,000.00 demanded by the suspect.
They also established that the petitioner was denied the second
approval because he would not provide the balance of N50,000.00.
Olamiti urged members of the public who face a similar situation to
call the commission for immediate support on their toll-free lines:
• 0803120280
• 08031230281
• 08031230282
• 07056990190 and
• 07056990191.