THE management of Ibadan Electricity Company (IBEDC) on Wednesday said that its workers were not responsible for setting ablaze its offices in Ilesa during a protest by some irate youths.

Mrs Angela Olarenwaju, IBEDC Head of Corporate Communications and Strategy,  in a statement in Osogbo said the three persons that were arraigned in an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly committing the offence were not staff of the company.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some youths from Olomilagba and Bolorunduro communities in Ilesa had on March 14 stormed the Ilesa business hub of IBEDC in protest at  what they described as “crazy bills.’’

During the protest, the IBEDC management alleged that the protesting youths attacked its staff ,destroyed its offices and made away with an unspecified amount of money.

As a result of the attack, IBEDC disconnected electricity supply to the communities.

Three persons arrested during the protest were later arraigned in an  Osogbo Magistrates’  Court on March 27.

Olanrewaju said one of the accused persons, Bidemi Adebisi, 39, was a lottery agent, while the other two,  Philip Sunday, 19 , and Adeyemi Sunday, 17, were spare part apprentices.

She said the accused persons,  who pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge, were later remanded because they could not meet their bail condition.

According to Olanrewaju, the report making rounds that the accused were IBEDC staff is not the true reflection of what transpired in court or  in the charge sheet.

” IBEDC wants  to clarify 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 underage  persons and in this case, two of the arraigned persons are underage,” Olanrewaju said. (NAN)

– Apr. 3, 2019 @ 12:55 GMT |