Lagos courts sentence one for assaulting EKEDC staff, 7 others for vandalising transformers, cables

Oredola Adeola

Lagos State Magistrate court has sentenced one person for assaulting an Eko Electricity Distribution Company Staff, and four others for vandalising properties belonging to the Company.

Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, EKEDC Head of Corporate Communications, made this known in a statement, obtained by EnergyDay.

According to Lasaki, one Dada Fabian was arrested on March 16, 2023, for instigating mobs to beat up two staff of EKEDC, – who were going about their lawful duties, at Uzor Street, Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos.

He said, “She was charged for the breach of peace and conspiracy to cause grievous harm, with others still at large. She was arraigned on March 22, 2023, at Magistrate Court 19 Ajegunle and pleaded not guilty to the 2-count charge.

“The defendant was granted bail in the sum of N50,000.00 and a surety in like sum. The defendant was remanded at Kirikiri, pending when she was able to perfect her bail condition,” Lasaki said.

The EKEDC’s spokesperson further noted that in another development, one Kehinde Shogbesan, was caught on March 14, 2023, for damaging a transformer and stealing cable wires at Flag House, Marina, properties belonging to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company.

He said, “The suspect was convicted on March 30, 2023, having been found guilty of the two-count charge. He was sentenced to one and half years imprisonment for count 1, and two years imprisonment for count 2, to run concurrently.

“Ahmed Yaya, Aba Jide, and others now at large were apprehended on March 14, 2023, along Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island where they stole cables belonging to Eko Electricity Distribution Company valued at N7,000,000 (Seven million naira only).

“They were arraigned on March 16, 2023. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned to April 11, 2023.

“Also, another suspect, Ibrahim Abdullahi was caught stealing and vandalizing earth wire, statical wire, and a statical meter valued at N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand Naira only) on March 13, 2023.

 “He was arraigned on March 14, 2023, where he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 (One hundred thousand Naira only) with two sureties.

“Mamudu Ali, Samuel Akowe, and Stanley Umebuni were arrested on March 5, 2023, while attempting to vandalize and steal armored cables servicing the transformer at Temple Road, Ikoyi Lagos. They were caught by the officers on patrol.

“The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday,  March 7, 2023, at the Magistrate Court 10 Lagos. The charge was read to them, and they pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

“The defendants were granted bail in the sum of N500.000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), and 3 sureties with tax verification. The defendants are to be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison pending their bail perfection,” the EKEDC’s spokesperson said.

In the statement, Lasaki reiterated that EKEDC would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law in dealing with members of the public that take the law into their hands through assaults on EKEDC staff and officials.

He said where these attacks persist, EKEDC, in line with her obligation to provide service under a conducive atmosphere to its customers, would as a matter of necessity, continue to escalate such matters to law enforcement agencies.

Lasaki further noted that vandalism was one of the leading causes of poor power supply within EKEDC’s operation network and assured customers that the electricity distribution company would continue to work with relevant authorities to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and face the full wrath of the law.

He called on members of the public to report suspicious activity around its infrastructure to the nearest EKEDC office.