Fake Ikeja Electric Workers Sent To Prison

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

P.M.EXPRESS has confirmed the arrest of three suspects including a woman, who specialised in going about the streets disconnecting electricity supply wires from houses for gratification in Lagos. 

The suspects are Innocent Efem, 31, Wisdom Momoh and a 39-year old woman Ufuoma Sunday.

The suspects were arrested at the Ikotun area of Lagos where they had gone to extort money from the residents pretending as staff of Ikeja Electric sent to disconnect wires from houses in the area.

They were said to have carried a ladder and were moving from house to house on the streets obtaining money from people.

It was gathered that when they get to a particular house and they failed to give them a certain amount of money they demanded, they will disconnect the wires from the poles and leave.

However, when they got to Oyefuga Street in the same Abaranje area of Ikotun, the residents challenged them, apprehended and handed them over to the police.

They were taken to the Ikotun Police Division and were asked to identify themselves and contact their management as they claimed that they were sent by the Ikeja Electric company.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that during investigations, it was discovered that they were not staff of the company and were not sent by anybody to disconnect wires in the area.

They later confessed that they were using the ploy to extort money from the public to meet their needs.

It was also gathered that it was not only in Ikotun area that such syndicates operated, that they also operated in some areas like Ejigbo, Isolo, Ijegun, Igando and other areas that had no prepaid meters.

The suspects were charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates court for conspiracy and impersonation.

They pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. F.K.J Layeni granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The prosecutor, Inspector, G Simon did not object to their bail because the offence was bailable.

They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 7 May, 2018.