How I was attacked in Abuja by 20 tanker drivers, NUPENG President tells court

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Williams Akporeha, connected Wednesday, narrated earlier a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, astatine Maitama, however helium was astir lynched by thugs that were led by 20 tanker drivers.

Akporeha, who made the revelation portion testifying earlier Justice Yusuf Halilu, said helium was rescued by a squad of information operatives that was led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Utako, aft his edifice country was invaded by his assailants.

According to him, the tanker drivers and thugs, equipped with weapons and galloons of petrol, stormed the edifice wherever helium lodged with different NUPENG members, pursuing a quality that trailed an predetermination that was held by the union.

He testified astatine the resumed proceedings of the accused drivers who were identified arsenic erstwhile leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, subdivision of the NUPENG.

The defendants are answering to a five-count complaint bordering connected attempted murder, breach of bid and assault.

The charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, was brought earlier the tribunal by the bureau of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Specifically, the defendants were alleged to person attacked NUPENG President, Akporeha; the Union’s Secretary-General, Olawale Afolabi and the caller PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, frankincense acting successful a mode apt to origin their death.

Those connected proceedings for the alleged transgression included a one-time PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua; Dayyabu Garga; Humble Obinna; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru; Abdulmimin Shaibu; and John Amajuoyi.

As good as: Zaira Aregbo; Patrick Erhivwor; Stephen Ogheneruemu; Gift Ukponku, and Sunday Ezeocha.

All the defendants had earlier pleaded not blameworthy to the complaint against them.

At the resumed proceedings successful the substance connected Wednesday, Akporeha, portion being cross-examined by counsel to the defendants, Mr. Christopher Oshomegie, SAN, told the tribunal that connected the time they were attacked, helium saw the erstwhile PTD National Chairman, Osesua, and the different defendants astatine the edifice premises.

He told the tribunal that the defendants, upon sighting his vehicle, blocked the gross to contradict him entree to the hotel.

The witnesser added that helium yet entered the premises done the tiny gate, lone to beryllium attacked aboriginal by the defendants and equipped youths, aft they destroyed doors, windows and spot belonging to the hotel.

The NUPENG President informed the tribunal that helium was connected the phone, speaking with the caller PTD National Chairman, Egbon, erstwhile the doorway to his country was forcibly opened.

“I was not with Egbon, but I was connected the telephone with him erstwhile I heard the doorway to his country breached and I heard him screaming.

“I besides saw erstwhile helium was being beaten and dragged from the 4th floor. He was beaten to a pulp,” Akporeha added.

He told the tribunal that NUPENG had astir 150 branches, of which PTD was one, stressing that determination was nary rivalry wrong the union.

Moreover, helium informed the tribunal that the national was not accustomed to utilizing the constabulary oregon the judiciary to resoluteness its interior disputes.

“It is not close that 1 radical is utilizing the constabulary and tribunal against different to settee a national matter. I americium the National President of the national (NUPENG); I oversee everybody.

“NUPENG is 1 assemblage and determination are nary groups. NUPENG has astir 150 branches which PTD is 1 of them. The contented of 1 radical against different does not arise.”

Akporeha, the 2nd prosecution witness, PW2, successful the case, informed the tribunal that the national conducted PTD enforcement elections successful June 2022 astatine Ibadan, during which the 1st defendant, Osesua, Dayyabu Garga, and others emerged arsenic winners.

However, helium said the predetermination was subsequently nullified by the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting successful Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, which ordered NUPENG to behaviour a caller canvass for the PTD.

He told the tribunal that immoderate of the defendants besides took the substance earlier the NIC successful Abuja, which besides nullified the election.

“After the archetypal predetermination was nullified, the tribunal directed that different predetermination beryllium conducted. This was conducted, but immoderate of them (defendants) went to court, and the tribunal besides nullified the 2nd election.

“After this, NUPENG ...