Justice served: 25-year old gets 3 years jail term for vandalising EEDC property
A Federal High Court of Nigeria, Owerri Judicial Division, on Friday March 23, sentenced one Chidiebere Duru for vandalising the property of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
Duru, 25, an indigene of Umuafai, in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State was handed the jail term for unlawfully tampering with a 200KVA transformer belonging to the electricity distribution company, located at Umuejim Nnenato, Dikenafai, Ideato South Local Government Area of the state.
In the judgement, Hon. Justice Allagoa said Duru’s action is contrary to the provisions of Section 1 (9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, L.F.N. 2004.
The sentence is coming few weeks after 19 year old Chukwudi Igboekwuto was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment by His Lordship Uzoma Udeze at the Chief Magistrate Court, Oyi Magisterial District, Nteje, Anambra State for attacking a distribution substation belonging to EEDC, located at Genesis Estate, Omife 3-3, Anambra State.
A statement by EEDC noted that, the activities of vandals have been a great challenge to the smooth operation of its business and is negatively impacting on the quality of service it provides to its customers.
“As a measure to curtail this activity, we have continuously engaged with critical stakeholders and our customers on the need to join hands with EEDC to protect these installations within their neighbourhood, provided to serve them.
“We are equally intensifying in our effort and collaboration with security agencies as well as various vigilante groups, in ensuring that these vandals are apprehended and prosecuted accordingly; and we are not relenting in this effort.
“Just last year, we committed millions of Naira replacing vandalised items within our network, this is telling on our finances, and it is not sustainable. These are monies that ordinarily would have been channeled to other activities that will enhance our service delivery to our customers,” the statement observed.
EEDC however assured its customers of its unalloyed services and urged them to continue to report every attack on its properties.