Senate orders inquest into death of football fans in Calabar News

Navigation: Home / News / News / Senate orders inquest into death of football fans in Calabar

Senate orders inquest into death of football fans in Calabar

By Mayowa Okekale, Abuja on May 25, 2017

The Senate has ordered an inquest into the Calabar football viewing Centre tragedy which led to the death of several youths believed to be Manchester United Fans in Nyangassang Community, Atimbo area of Calabar, Cross River State, on April 22, 2017.

During the plenary on Tuesday, the Senate mandated its Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to invite the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the accident and report its findings and recommendations to the Senate.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Gershom Bassey representing Cross River South in the upper chambers.

The Senate also urged Electricity Distribution Companies to carry out regular checks and maintenance of their installations so as to forestall tragedies.

According to the motion, a high tension cable belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company fell and electrocuted the football fans at a football viewing centre.

The Senate thereafter observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.

In a related development, the Senate during plenary agreed to discuss the billing system of all distribution companies in the country.

The decision of the Senate followed a motion by Senator Dino Melaye who relied on a point of order to accuse the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company of astronomical billing.

•Photo shows Senator Gershom Bassey.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 25, 2017