Slain PHCN Official Buried, Management Pledge Support for His Family

We recall with deep regret, the unfortunate course of events leading to the sorrowful death of our illustrious son and colleague, whose life was cut short at his prime while in active service to the electricity industry and the Nigerian nation.

His death even become more painful to his immediate family and the PHCN family at large because of the gruesome manner in which his assailants cruelly terminated his precious life in broad day light and right in the safety of his office.

Although he fought gallantly in self-defense, the viciousness of his attackers could have overwhelmed even a squadron of armed officers. Evidently, the motive for this dastardly act was premeditated and professionally accomplished, given the facts of an autopsy report as received by PHCN management.

We do know that all mortals are unavoidably indebted to death including the assailants of our late colleague. We are, therefore, consoled by the injunctions of the Holy Books on divine vengeance and retribution. But even at that, as humans, we are bound to be grieved in the circumstance of Mr. Ademolu's death such that it deserves intervention of state security agencies.

We are aware and confident of fairness in the Police investigations and the judicial process to ensure justice and equity. We shall, however, appreciate thoroughness and decisiveness to serve as deterrence to perpetrators of legal injustice and social disorder.

To the entire Ademolu family, we in the PHCN family commiserate with you and pray for your divine consolation while requesting God to grant the soul of Adetola Babatunde Ademolu eternal rest in His heavenly bosom.

To his wife and children, we ask the Almighty God to give them the solace and grace of greater achievements and protection. And to his aged parents, we commit them into God's hands to relieve their hearts of the burden of sorrow and grief even as we continue to mourn with them.

We wish to assure all the registered dependants of Mr. Ademolu prompt dispensation of his approved benefits.

Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to express the displeasure of PHCN management to the attitude of some of our esteemed customers towards PHCN staff who were usually targets of unprovoked attacks, sometimes with grievous consequences in varying degrees.

As agents of the Nigerian State, PHCN staff are merely discharging their responsibilities dutifully in the service of their fatherland.

I, therefore, seize this opportunity to appeal to any aggrieved customer to be more civil in seeking redress for perceived dissatisfaction with our service delivery and billing.

For the avoidance of doubt, we are resolved to use Ademolu's case to test the strength of the law and the Nigerian constitution to ensure fairness and public decorum.


Once more, the PHCN management mourn with the Ademolu family and request public cooperation in the Federal Government's efforts to improve the national energy infrastructures and service delivery.

We wish you all God's protection as we jointly support the Ademolu family in this their moment of distress.

Being the text an address of zonal management of Power Holding of Nigeria(PHCN) Plc. on the occasion of the burial of late Mr. Adetola Babatunde Ademolu, the slain assistant manager (marketing), Akute Undertaking, Ojodu, Business Unit on Friday 12 September, 2008 and delivered by the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Distribution Zone, Engr. Oladele A. Adeola. Mr. Ademolu was allegedly murdered by aggrieved PHCN customers in his office in Akute Ogun State on August 19, 2008.