Vandals of BEDC cables jailed for 2 years
Efforts by Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC), at curbing the menace of vandalism on its network have again received a boost with the sentencing of one Abdullahi Abubakar to two years imprisonment by an Ondo Chief Magistrate court.
The convict along with two others, Abdullahi Nahalla and Mohammed Umoru were arraigned before the magistrate court for vandalizing an XLPE cable last October at 33/415 substation Awoyaya community, Oke-Oka in Ondo town.
The Chief Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni sentenced Abubakar to two years imprisonment with effect from first date of arraignment (30th October 2017) while the two other suspects who pleaded not guilty were still awaiting judgment. Their case has been adjourned till June 22nd for further hearing.
Meanwhile police in delta state have arrested five suspected vandals on BEDC network along Ohoror-Patani axis and have moved them to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office for further investigation and prosecution.
The five suspects are, Lucky Erute, 14 years, Prosper Vincent, 19years, Marvis Ighovotu, 18years, Victory Eguomo, 16 years and Edafe Atiri, 18years.
Recently, a Benin Magistrate Court sitting in Ubiaja in Esan South East LGA, of Edo state, sentenced two transformer vandals, Mohammed Dan Fulani, 27 and Babangida Aliyu, 29 to 1 month and two weeks imprisonment with hard labour for vandalizing a BEDC transformer.
Vandalism of electricity distribution network and other forms of electrical thefts are serious threats to power sector sustainability and economic growth which has been a major act negatively affecting service delivery to customers and revenue. Revenue that could be used for critical development projects are been used to restore damaged and stolen installations.
