Yemisi Izuora
An Epe Magistrate Court sitting in Lagos Court on Tuesday sentenced one Yesiru Suleman to three years imprisonment on a three-count charge of stealing, tampering and malicious damage to electricity equipments belonging to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).
According to a statement signed by the General Manager, Media Communications of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia said the accused was sentenced on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 having pleaded guilty.
Idemudia stated that Suleiman with charge No EP/A/25/19 was sentenced to three-years on Count 1 for unlawfully tempered with EKEDC equipments under section 340 of the criminal law of Lagos States.
He was also sentenced to two-years on Count 2for unlawfully malicious damage of electricity equipments under section 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos States and three-years on count 3 for stealing under section 287 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State which is going to run con-currently of three years without option of fine.
Idemudia said the accused was apprehended on April 8 (yesterday) with the help of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Akodo, while stealing from a transformer situated at Igbolomi community Ibeju Lekki.
It explained that Suleman had vandalised the transformer and absconded with earthen cables worth One million and ninety-four thousand naira.
The statement stated that the accused was arraigned in court on Tuesday April 9, 2019 where the accused pleaded guilty to the charges, after accepting a confessional statement from the accused, the presiding Magistrate Mr. Adedamola Albert Paul found him guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment without the option of fine.
The Eko Electricity Distribution Company’s spokesperson stated that the stolen equipment had been recovered by the police and went further to express his aversion with these unlawful acts by reiterating the company’s zero-tolerance policy to vandalization.
He however applauded the sentence of the accused and stated that it should serve as a deterrent for those fond of perpetrating such malicious acts.
Idemudia mentioned that the company is currently implementing initiatives to reduce the number of vandalism cases within their network.
He also encouraged customers to assist the company in its fight against vandalism and other unlawful activities by using its whistle-blowing platforms to reveal or report any form of illegal and unethical activities.
He further stated that the whistle blowing platforms are safe, confidential and secure ways of alerting the company of illicit activities.
Idemudia said that the platform can also be used to report unscrupulous elements of the company that partake in illegal activities such as fraud and extortion of customers.