The recent power tussle at Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) has been linked to fallout involving some members of the board and management of the company over issues surrounding alleged ghost workers.
Dr Tinuade Sanda was recently removed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eko DisCo.
The company also directed all seconded staff from West Power & Gas Limited, the parent company of EKEDC, to return to WPG Ltd.
Eko DisCo later debunked an allegation that the removal of Sanda was not in the directive of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The company made this known in reaction to a statement issued by its board member, Babor Egeregor, saying Sanda was still in charge.
Egeregor had said the removal of Sanda as MD/CEO and replacement with Rekhiat Momoh was not in sync with the directive of the NERC.
The DisCo, in a statement issued by its chairman, Dere Otubu, on March 28, 2024, said it did not authorise Egeregor to issue any statement on behalf of the company.
However, findings revealed internal correspondences of the Chairman of WPG Ltd, George Etomi, Otubu, and among members of the board and the management which bordered on a recall of staff, ghost workers, and modalities for the investigation.
A mail sent to Wole Joseph-Condotti on December 5, 2023, by the Chairman of WPG Ltd, George Etomi, had recalled Joseph-Condotti.
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Otubu, in a letter dated December 5, 2023, also asked Wole to ignore the letter of recall from Etomi.
But in another mail sent to Otubu, Etomi expressed shock at Otubu’s letter to Wola and insisted that the rights to recall and or discipline staff are consequential rights of WPG as the CLO’s employer.
He noted that the letter of recall to the CLO constituted authority in such cases, pending the conclusion of the investigation and determination of the matter.
Otubu, in a letter dated December 6, 2023, and addressed to Etomi expressed surprise at the turn of events, saying: “I’m kindly surprised at your letter as I had spoken to you on why your ‘letter of Recall’ should never have been issued in the first place and was therefore disregarded.
“I had pointed out to you that it was clearly improper for you to ‘singlehandedly’ issue instructions of such significance on behalf of WPG and on a matter that relates to you without wide consultations.
“Furthermore, these instructions are to officers in a separate company “Eko Disco, with significant government shareholding and its processes, Issuing threats to Eko Disco staff is kindly ill-advised and of no value. I would therefore kindly request you to allow us the space to conduct the investigation properly.”
Another mail from Simon Ani to Ernest and Otunu on December 13 further shed more light on the ongoing squabble.
He stated: “Ernest you have a good point and I agree with you, but you will also note that George (Etomi) has called for a WPG meeting on the 19th and this matter is already listed on the agenda. And in one of George’s (Etomi) mails, to Dere (Otubu), George has already said he will recuse himself/ But your point was in order.”
“Chairman D (Otubu) I’m sorry to say but honestly, I think your mails are ill-advised and inappropriate for two reasons. WPG has written earlier this year to all of us Directors on Eko Board, clarifying that we are there representing WPG’s interest.
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“WPG employed all senior management. Wola is one of them. And under the O&M Agreement, WPG has overall supervisory responsibility for Eko. The moment we undermine constitutes authority, we also in the process create room for our authority to be undermined.”
However, Otubu, in a mail dated December 28 and addressed to Tunji Olowolafe referred to the directive of the board for the HR Committee to investigate the allegations made against the CL.
In his reaction, Egeregor said: “Deliberating on this extraneous Terms of Reference as singularly and surreptitiously introduced by Mr Otubu who openly admitted to being conflicted will be tantamount to delineating on falsehood and illegality.”
Otubu, in a letter dated January 14, 2024, and addressed to Sanda, spoke on the ghost workers in Eko DisCo, saying the latter as MD should protect the company from attacks.
“You are kindly instructed to take action and protect the integrity and image of the company, the directors, shareholders and all stakeholders from such attacks,” he added.
Sanda, on January 15, said: “As the MD, I have at all times taken steps to ensure the protection of the company’s integrity and brand, which was why I initiated the ghost workers queries in the first place after I was alerted by a whistleblower within the company and did some investigations.
She added that she had always protected the integrity and image of the company at all times, stressing that she would continue to do so “unflinchingly”.
Sanda said: “However, it is clear that the staff are anxious to know how the matter will be investigated and decided. This has been their clamour since this matter was escalated to me in November 2023.
“There is a feeling of resentment amongst staff at the way the company handled previous instances of job abandonment for a relatively small amount, yet here, a senior officer has been accused on a similar issue, and for such larger sums of money, yet no visible actions. There is a strong and growing perception of injustice and double standards.”
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