Bedmate Furniture Company has explained what transpired between Kung Fu master Wan and a woker, William Ekanem.
The company denied that Wan crippled Ekanem with Kung Fu kicks.
The company said Ekanem, who allegedly had a history of stealing property of the company, was blackmailing the firm.
Bedmate explained that he was caught a few weeks to the incident with some celotapes, a claim that Ekanem denied.
It added that a medical report from Beachland Specialist Hospital, Arepo, indicated that the 27-year-old only had pains in some parts of his body after falling during a scuffle with Master Wan, who wanted to search him.
Punch had reported that Ekanem had bought some foodstuffs on the premises of the company when he was confronted by his Chinese boss, Master Wan, who asked to see the content of the bag.
After forcefully checking the bag, the victim was allegedly given a kick in the back by the Chinese, who also stamped his foot on his chest.
On Monday, the Managing Director of Bedmate Furniture Company, David Pan; and the company’s lawyer, Ayo Durojaye, during a visit to PUNCH Place, Magboro, said Ekanem was painting the company in bad light in order to extort money from it.
Durojaiye noted that Ekanem had a history of stealing, which made Master Wan suspicious of him on the day of the incident.
He said, “Ekanem is a foreman with Bedmate Furniture. Three or four weeks to the incident, he had a case of stealing. He stole some big celotapes. He was caught at the gate by the security men and was reported to the factory manager.
“It was Master Wan who begged for him to be pardoned. The celotapes were collected from him.
“It was after this incident that he was seen with a bag in the factory. Master Wan asked him what was in the bag. He refused to open the bag. The man struggled with him, but he refused to open the bag till the end of work that day.
“He went to keep the bag in his drawer and locked it. While they were dragging the bag, he fell and he continued with his work that day.”
Durojaiye explained that the victim, who showed up in the office the following day, suddenly disappeared on the third day, claiming that he was ill due to the fall.
The lawyer said the company’s Nigerian manager, Lekan, advised him to go to the company’s hospital, Beachland Specialist Hospital, for treatment.
“He went there and was treated. He didn’t show up in the office again. The next thing the company saw was that he had gone to the Ibafo Police Station to report the case. The police investigated his claim and discovered that he was not saying the truth.
“I went to the station with Master Wan. The DCO of Ibafo station called him and asked what he wanted. He said he wanted the company to pay him off. We agreed with him, but some human rights people said they wanted settlement and they would want their lawyer to be involved.
“Later, the lawyer requested N50m compensation and threatened to take further action,” he added.
The company denied that Wan crippled Ekanem with Kung Fu kicks.
The company said Ekanem, who allegedly had a history of stealing property of the company, was blackmailing the firm.
Bedmate explained that he was caught a few weeks to the incident with some celotapes, a claim that Ekanem denied.
It added that a medical report from Beachland Specialist Hospital, Arepo, indicated that the 27-year-old only had pains in some parts of his body after falling during a scuffle with Master Wan, who wanted to search him.
Punch had reported that Ekanem had bought some foodstuffs on the premises of the company when he was confronted by his Chinese boss, Master Wan, who asked to see the content of the bag.
After forcefully checking the bag, the victim was allegedly given a kick in the back by the Chinese, who also stamped his foot on his chest.
On Monday, the Managing Director of Bedmate Furniture Company, David Pan; and the company’s lawyer, Ayo Durojaye, during a visit to PUNCH Place, Magboro, said Ekanem was painting the company in bad light in order to extort money from it.
Durojaiye noted that Ekanem had a history of stealing, which made Master Wan suspicious of him on the day of the incident.
He said, “Ekanem is a foreman with Bedmate Furniture. Three or four weeks to the incident, he had a case of stealing. He stole some big celotapes. He was caught at the gate by the security men and was reported to the factory manager.
“It was Master Wan who begged for him to be pardoned. The celotapes were collected from him.
“It was after this incident that he was seen with a bag in the factory. Master Wan asked him what was in the bag. He refused to open the bag. The man struggled with him, but he refused to open the bag till the end of work that day.
“He went to keep the bag in his drawer and locked it. While they were dragging the bag, he fell and he continued with his work that day.”
Durojaiye explained that the victim, who showed up in the office the following day, suddenly disappeared on the third day, claiming that he was ill due to the fall.
The lawyer said the company’s Nigerian manager, Lekan, advised him to go to the company’s hospital, Beachland Specialist Hospital, for treatment.
“He went there and was treated. He didn’t show up in the office again. The next thing the company saw was that he had gone to the Ibafo Police Station to report the case. The police investigated his claim and discovered that he was not saying the truth.
“I went to the station with Master Wan. The DCO of Ibafo station called him and asked what he wanted. He said he wanted the company to pay him off. We agreed with him, but some human rights people said they wanted settlement and they would want their lawyer to be involved.
“Later, the lawyer requested N50m compensation and threatened to take further action,” he added.