In a dramatic courtroom revelation on Wednesday, Williams Akporeha, the President of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), recounted a harrowing attack that shook the union to its core. Testifying as the second prosecution witness at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, Akporeha detailed how he, alongside Secretary-General Wale Afolabi and newly elected National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch, Augustine Egbon, fell victim to a violent ambush by 20 former union leaders.
The chilling events unfolded on November 1, 2023, when the group allegedly besieged the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) office in Utako, Abuja. The defendants, including former PTD National Chairman Lucky Osesua, are facing serious charges of attempted murder, assault, and breach of peace in the case marked CR/042/2023.
As Akporeha recounted, the attackers were armed with clubs, iron bars, and stones, effectively blocking his vehicle from entering the premises. "As soon as we approached, they began shouting and calling us thieves," Akporeha stated, his voice filled with emotion. He described how he was violently seized by Humble Obinna and Dayyabu Garga, who dragged and assaulted him while accusing him of not belonging there.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Akporeha revealed that while he endured the brutal attack, Osesua and other assailants turned their aggression towards Afolabi. "They were wielding dangerous weapons, and two of them had jerry cans, which I suspected contained fuel," he added, suggesting a sinister intent.
In a twist of fate, Akporeha was ultimately rescued by his secretary, Mary Okafor, who smuggled him into the PTD building through a back door. From his vantage point inside, he witnessed the continued violence against Afolabi, Egbon, and another union member, Solomon Kilanko. "I saw bloodstains on the road, and the defendants were brandishing weapons, threatening to burn down the building," he recalled, clearly shaken by the memory.
The situation escalated when Akporeha’s driver informed him that Afolabi had been severely beaten and was unconscious, bleeding profusely. It wasn’t until the police arrived, led by the Divisional Crime Officer from Utako Police Station, that Akporeha was rescued from the volatile scene.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the defendants, including Dayyabu Garga and Akinolu Olabisi, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, represented by David Kaswe, sought to present a petition submitted by Akporeha following the incident, but defense counsel Christopher Oshiomogie (SAN) objected, arguing that the document was inadmissible.
The court proceedings were adjourned until November 20 for further hearing, as the fight for justice in this alarming case continues to unfold.
