BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN— SOME land owners, whose houses were demolished following the installation and construction of 330KV S/C Transmission Line at Ikhueniro in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State by the defunct Power Holdings Company of Nigeria, PHCN, have petitioned the Minister of Mines and Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, over non-payment of compensation.

The petitioners, led by Benedict Imhoisi, Eveomhan Victor and Godwin Omoruyi for 18 others, alleged that Federal Government had already released money for the payment of the compensation.

They accused the committee set up by the government to disburse the money of putting them in the dark.
According to the petition by their counsel, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, the committee and their own agents connived to withhold information on the total amount released by the government to pay compensation for the affected property and the actual amount accruing to each property owner.

The petition read: “Our clients suspect a case of deceit and fowl play by these persons whose acts are set to defraud our clients of their benefits and long standing entitlements from the Federal Government.

“Our clients have laboured with their sweats and bleed to acquire these property which is their only source of shelter.”