Man, 59, Arraigned For Refusing To Pay Estimated Electricity Bill Debt

KINGSLEY EBERE 

A 59-year old man, Jerry Anayo Ibezim, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly incurring huge estimated electricity bills debt and refusing to pay the accumulated bills. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Ibezim has been arrested and charged for refusing to pay the accumulated debt and allegedly threatening his neighbours, Tony Igiebor and Blessing Igiebor.

The incident happened at Plat 221 Black 96 Flat 5 Zone D, Iba Housing Estate, Iba area of Lagos, where he resides.

According to the Police, the suspect was owing electricity bills and the complainants demanded that he should pay his bills that had accumulated over the years but he refused to pay. He claimed he was not having light yet electricity company continued bringing estimated bills which accumulated to the amount in question.

This brought disagreement between him and the complainants and he was said to have threatened them in the process.

The matter was reported to the Police at Iba Division. He was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the complainants.

After interrogation, the Police found him culpable for not paying the electricity bills and threatening the complainants.

The Police subsequently charged him before the Ojo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal law of the State.

The charges read:

COUNT 1: “That you, Jerry Anayo ‘m’ Ibezim ‘m’ from 3rd of July, 2022 to 13th July, 2025 at Block 96 Flat 5 Zone D, Iba Housing Estate, within the Lagos Magisterial District, did refuse to pay your electricity bills that accumulated up to N498,105.31k (Four Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand One Hundred and Five Naira Thirty One kobo) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168 (D) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, Jerry Anayo Ibezim, ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did threaten the life of One Tony Igiebor ‘m’ and One Blessing Igiebor ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56 criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Esther Adesulu, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ogun, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 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 for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.