Court remands two in Jos prison for energy theft

Two suspected energy vandals were yesterday remanded in Jos prison by the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The case presided by Justice Agishe affirmed that the two energy thieves, Abubakar Salihu Zakari and Pam Vincent Joseph be kept in prison custody, pending final decision on the matter.

In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communication, Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED), Dr. Friday Adakole Elijah and made available to newsmen, Elijah said that, the hoodlums, Zakari and Pam popularly known as Habu Gali and Vinny respectively, were charged to court for by-passing meters installed by the Jos Electricity Distribution Plc in various places within and around Jos metropolis, saying that the arraignment followed the criminal complaint leveled against the accused persons by the management of JED for illegally by-passing the pole mounted pre-paid meters for customers.

Elijah said when the charges preferred against them were read by the prosecutor, Abubakar Zakari pleaded guilty while Pam Joseph pleaded not guilty, adding that they were both remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date, 21st September, 2017 when
final pronouncements would be made on their fate.

However, shortly after the court sitting, the Head, Legal Department JED Plc, Barrister Wilson Eryum Tingir, disclosed that the company was going to aggressively pursue the prosecution of energy depredators and those found culpable of vandalizing the company’s installations.

Tingir who is also the Assistant General Manager with the company cautioned members of the general public to desist from act capable of jeopardizing the interest of the company, adding that anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

In his words, “it is an act of economic sabotage to engage on by-pass, vandalization of electricity installations, that will impact negatively on the industry in particular and the society at large; the company will no longer tolerate acts of sabotage”.

He however called on community leaders, family heads, landlords, vigilante groups to be watchful and eschew falling prey to the antics of energy thieves who might cajole them into this negative vices stressing that a surveillance team has been put in place by the company in conjunction with security agencies who are constantly on the watch, he said