A special court in Aba, Abia State, has adjourned to Tuesday the attempted murder case against a man described as a notorious thief of the power electricity infrastructure in the leading Southeastern industrial city who is accused of planning and mobilising a mob to lynch four Aba Power staff members on field duty.
Uche Maduabuchi, 40, will remain with the Police Anti-kidnapping Unit in Aba till next week for his effort to kill Chinonso Nwabundu, Stephen Ngozi John, Samuel Nwachukwu and Onyeka Ezeaguba, all employees of Aba Power.
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He is on a holden charge before a special magistrate court with The Hon Ukaegbu presiding at the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force because judiciary workers have for weeks been on strike in Abia State over nonpayment of salaries for several months and other welfare issues.
“Afraid that the four electricity employees would stop him from further vandalism against electricity infrastructure that day and report him to their organisation or even to higher authorities”, according to a policeman looking into the case who does not want his name in the media because he is not allowed to speak to the press on the issue,” Maduabuchi began to scream hysterically that the workers were electricity vandals always throwing the city into darkness through their stealing critical electricity distribution parts.
“Despite the fact that the workers wore their corporate field dress, had their name tags on their clothes, and were in their company vehicle, complete with the company colours, a crowd of about 100 persons quickly gathered and beat the workers to stupour.
“As the mob was about to set the electricity workers ablaze with petrol and match sticks, gallant security men appeared on the scene, and that was what saved the day”.
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The police officer advised citizens against taking the law into their hands, explaining that criminals have been found to be responsible for most mob actions.
“Criminals use the opportunity of mob action to steal from victims believed to be with big cash or to settle scores or to kill innocent persons on legitimate duties, as in this case”.
He expressed optimism that a successful prosecution of the suspect “will go a long way to prove that criminal conspiracy or any other form of crime does not pay.
“It will rather expose criminals to the long arms of the law, especially those who vandalise critical infrastructure like power facilities which serve the public”.