FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, IKPOMWEN LAUNCHES BOOKS ON JUDGEMENT WRITING, LAWYERS’ LIFESTYLE

 

By Kadiri Christopher 

A Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, staff has recently been electrocuted to death in a suburb in Edo State.

The BEDC official, Engr Augustine Izekor was said to have embarked on an operation for restoring electricity to Evbodia community in Oredo Local Government Area when the electricity power was restored which led to his electrocution.

However, the restoration of power, the attitude of his colleagues, his discussion with his family and the operations of the BEDC has raised some suspicious tunes to his death.

According to the matron on duty when Engr Izekor was brought to the Faith Mediplex Hospital, "We were here when the man was brought alive around 4pm. He was alleged to have been electrocuted. We immediately attended to him and ensured that the proper emergency steps were taken.

"We tried our best till he gave up around 11pm in the presence of his sister who came when he arrived here", she said.

When reached, his sister, Mrs Uyimwen who was said to have been on ground responded, "I received a call from him that he had an accident and that I should come to the Faith Mediplex Hospital. When I arrived there around 7pm, he was trying to respond to treatment until the bed he was laid was too unconducive for him.

"We moved him to a separate bed and the doctor who we called upon came and fixed oxygen on him and the nurse tried to get sample of his blood. Nothing came out from him. But shortly, he became aggressive and removed the oxygen and he was curtailed by the doctor on duty.

"As soon as he calmed down, he was looking in a direction and that was when the doctor on duty ran a check on him and he declared my brother lifeless", she burst into tears.

The family went to the BEDC office at Etete where he served a few months before his death and the security men at the sentry were seen overzealous and quickly locked the gate with locks. This was an act that got sympathizers, mourners, friends and family members angry till a management staff of the BEDC came and forestall peace.

It was gathered that the Etete business center of the BEDC was not informed of the incident that led to Engr Izekor's death.

When contacted, BEDC public relations officer, Mrs Evelyn Gbiwon said, "we just heard about his death this morning and we are trying to gather information about the circumstances that could have led to his death".

The chief security officer of the BEDC, Colonel Aghedo, rtd, said, "we have arrested those who went on operations with him.

"They were arrested at various spots and we are yet to get their response as per their involvement in the operation that killed your brother.

"But however, we shall be relating with you as events unfold. Our condolences to the family, friends and family are genuine", he said.

Meeting with Engr Austin's widow, she wept bitterly saying, "where will I start from? Who will I run to? This is the end of me. I am finished.

"He told me to cook rice for him before he left. I called him around 7pm and he told me he will be home soon and I went to prepare the food to be warmed for him.

"I was calling him later because he doesn't keep late outside. He didn't take his calls and I managed to go to bed to find sleep which was not satisfactory.

"This morning, I was called by my pastor's wife that we have a place to visit. I got dressed and followed her in her car, only for me to be informed at the terminus that my husband is dead", she said.

In a session with one of his daughters, she said, "my daddy has always told me of one Igbo man who's not happy with him in the office.

"When I asked him what was the problem with the Igbo man, he said the Igbo man has always threatened that my daddy who is new in the station cannot head then who are the old staff.

"My daddy was in the midst of colleagues who wanted my daddy to die. They should bring him back alive", she said.

According to some BEDC officials who pleaded anonymity, they said this is the sixth official that has died since the month of May, 2023.

In another development, all those who were in the operation with him and abandoned him in the Faith Mediplex Hospital, did not report to duty the following day. They were however arrested at various spots of their hidings.

In a critical investigation, it was gathered that while the supervisor of the team called BEDC the control room for outage and the work in progress, a member in the team called the control room to restore power and that was when Engr Izekor Austin was electrocuted.

However, the remains have been deposited at an undisclosed morgue for further investigation