By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA-Anambra State branch of Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, has petitioned the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, over alleged exploitation and extortion of energy consumers in Onitsha and its environs by some staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

The organization said it received complaints from power consumers and observed what it called various unacceptable practices perpetrated by PHCN officials in Onitsha and called on the minister to intervene without further delay.

In the letter copied to Chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, among others, CLO alleged that PHCN officials deliberately refused to read analogue meters, adding that they had been issuing outrageous bills, while engaging in mass disconnection of electricity.

The letter, which was signed by CLO chairman, Mr. Aloysius Attah, and secretary, Mr. Justus Ijeoma, accused PHCN officials of engaging in shady deals in the procurement and installation of pre-paid meters