MICHAEL AKINOLA
Three tenants, Chidiadi Kanu Loveday, 37, Uche Chukwunjoku, 31 and Azeez Jamiu, 55 have landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly using free electricity supply after tempering with the IKDC prepaid meter belonging to their neighbour, Mrs. Laide Olokesusi before they were caught.
P.M.EXPRESS reports the incident happened in September, 2022 at Raimi Ajibowu Street, Unity Bus Stop, Igando, where they reside.
According to the Police, the tenants had for the past two years tempered with the prepaid meter and were using the electricity light while the owner, Mrs. Laide Olokesusi, was recharging the prepaid meter without knowing it had been tempered with.
However, the whole thing got exposed after she engaged the officials of IKDC to find out why the money she was paying for the prepaid meter does not last for those years.
It was then discovered that the tenants tempered with it and were using free electricity while the owner was paying the bills.
The matter was reported to the Police at Idimu Division. The tenants were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charge read:
That you, Chidiadi Kanu Loveday ‘M’, Uche Chukwunjoku ‘M’ and Azeez Jamiu ‘M’ sometimes in the month of September 2022 at No 52, Raimi Ajibowu Street, Unity Bus Stop, Igando in Lagos Magisterial district, did conspire among yourself to commit felony to wit unlawful interference and tempered with IKDC Prepald Meter thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count II: That you, Chidiadi Kanu Loveday ‘M’, Uche Chukwunjoku ‘M’ and Azeez Jamiu ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did unlawfully interfere and tempered with IKDC Prepaid Meter property of one Mrs. Lalde Olokesusi “F” and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 340 of criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 20th November, 2024, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.