Oredola Adeola

With multiple court cases already instituted in 2024, against offenders for willful damage of power distribution infrastructure, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has intensified legal action against offenders, signaling a zero-tolerance approach towards equipment damage, illegal connections, and energy theft within its operational domain.

Babatunde Lasaki, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the utility firm, made this known in a statement, obtained by Advisors Reports on Monday.

He therefore implored the public to support its fight against vandalism of electricity installations, illegal connections, and energy theft.

The EKEDC GM, Corporate Communication revealed that the Company will continue its quest in ensuring offenders are prosecuted.

He said, “We have had several cases this year bordering on vandalism, reckless driving, and illegal reconnection across our network.

“For example, one Arisu Umar was sentenced to three months, six months, and another six months to run concurrently from the date of remand for stealing and willful damage to our equipment in Ojo. Also, another man, Gesiakimi Paka was sentenced to a two-year jail term for conspiracy and attempt to steal” Lasaki said.

He also noted that Ikenze Joseph, Isiya Salisu, Abdulahi Jemilu, Zelani Basiru, Afolabi Daniel, Sanusi Garba have all been arraigned for vandalism-related charges.

“Another suspect, Qudus Yusuf, a 17-year-old has also been remanded in the Juvenile Correctional Centre for vandalism while Dauda Bamikole was charged with reckless and dangerous driving for colliding with electricity poles belonging to EKEDC in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos,” the EKEDC spokesperson said.

Lasaki also mentioned the case of one Sheriff Ojelowo who was docked for habitual illegal reconnection after being disconnected.

He noted that those illegal activities and other factors contributed to service downtime and the Company’s inability to provide stable power supply to its customers.

He therefore reiterated EKEDC’s commitment to providing a safe, reliable, and constant electricity supply to its customers.

Lasaki said “We commend our customers, communities, and security agencies for their role in securing the electricity installations around them.

“We also call for more concerted efforts towards guarding and securing them better to forestall future vandalism or theft.

“We are also using this as a medium to warn perpetrators of this preposterous act of vandalism, energy theft and other illegal activities to refrain from doing that or face the full extent of the law as our legal team is poised to ensure the prosecution of these perpetrators,” he said.

The EKEDC GM, Corporate Communication therefore urged the customers to always reach out to DisCo through its various touchpoints for any complaints they have for prompt resolution of such issues.