The President of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Williams Akporeha, on Wednesday, narrated a chilling account before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, detailing how he, alongside the union’s Secretary-General, Wale Afolabi, and the newly elected National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch, Augustine Egbon, were violently attacked by 20 former union leaders.
Akporeha, testifying as the second prosecution witnessin the ongoing trial, recalled the events of 1 November, 2023, when the group allegedly laid siege to the PTD office in Utako, Abuja.
The 20 defendants, including a former PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, face charges of attempted murder, breach of peace, and assault in the suit marked CR/042/2023.
Akporeha described how the group, armed with clubs, iron bars, and stones, blocked his vehicle from entering the office premises, forcing him and Afolabi to step out and investigate.
“As soon as we approached, they began shouting and calling us thieves. Humble Obinna grabbed me by the hands, and Dayyabu Garga seized me by the shirt, dragging and beating me while shouting that I didn’t belong there,” Akporeha told the court.
He said that while he was being assaulted, Osesua and other defendants attacked Afolabi. “They were carrying dangerous weapons, and two of them had jerry cans, which I suspected contained fuel,” he added.
Akporeha recounted how he was eventually smuggled into the PTD building by his secretary, Mary Okafor, through a back door.
From inside the office, he watched as the defendants continued their violent assault on Afolabi, Egbon, and another union member, Solomon Kilanko.
“I saw bloodstains on the road, and the defendants were still brandishing weapons, threatening to burn down the building,” he said.
He also revealed that his driver later informed him that Afolabi, who had been severely beaten, was unconscious and bleeding heavily.
The police eventually arrived, led by the Divisional Crime Officer from Utako Police Station, and rescued Akporeha.
The defendants, including Dayyabu Garga, Humble Obinna, Akinolu Olabisi, and others, were arraigned but pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel David Kaswe, representing the Attorney General of the Federation, sought to tender a petition submitted by Akporeha following the incident, but defense counsel Christopher Oshiomogie (SAN) objected, arguing that the petition was inadmissible as it was not front-loaded with the charge and only a photocopy was available. This led the trial to be adjourned to November 20 for further hearing.
