Electrocution: Court orders PHCN to pay N25m as damages

Electrocution: Court orders PHCN to pay N25m as damages

A Katsina- Ala High court judge Justice Tersea Kume has ordered the Power Holding Company of Nigeria( PHCN) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc to jointly pay twenty -five million naira as damages to the family of a young man, Akpenwuan Chia, who was electrocuted by high tension electricity cable in Ukum local government area in August last  year.

Delivering judgement in a suit filed by Edward Ikyoive  ,counsel to the elder brother of the victim Mr Aondo Chia,Justice Kume also ordered that the defendant to pay interest of ten percent monthly until the judgement sum is liquidated.

The plaintiff had sued the defendants claiming  one billion naira as general damages for negligence which caused the electrocution of his younger brother.

The trail judge, Justice Kume said he belived the evidence of the plaintiff that it was due to negligence by officials of PHCN who failed to remove the high tension cable which electrocuted the victim about 8:20 pm on the fateful day  while returning from the compound of Chief Imojime Chia  to his own residence.

The judge noted that it was due to the careless conduct of officials of PHCN in the area that caused the life of the 40 year-old young man,pointing out that if the high tension cable which fell but was suspended mid air across the road was quickly removed after the report was made ,the ugly incident would have been averted.

He therefore charged officials of PHCN to ensure quick attention to some of its damaged cables  especially where report had been made by its customers to avoid such ugly incident.

Counsel to  plaintiff MR. Edward Ikyoive described the judgement as sound saying though no amount can assuage the value of life. He said the money will help train the children of the deceased  and his widow.