Three men identified as Ekong Ekwere (70 years), Ekong Iniobong Abraham (25 years) and Kazeem Otapo (44 years) were arraigned Wednesday before the Magistrate Court in Agbara, Ogun State over electricity meter bypass (energy theft) and assault on two staff of Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
Mr. Godwin Idemudia, General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, disclosed this and said the incident happened at the Ago Eto area of Agbara, Ogun state.
Idemudia stated that the rate of theft of electricity energy and violence against workers in the electricity distribution industry are alarming.
EKEDC Spokesman appealed to customers to desist from energy theft and assaulting staff of the company, as he reiterated EKEDC’s zero tolerance to these heinous acts.
The arraignment of the three followed a five-count charge of committing felony to wit, stealing of electricity energy by tampering with and bypassing a prepaid meter valued at N739,350.92 (Ekong Ekwere), illegally and fraudulently receiving electricity units valued at N301,000 (Kazeem Otapo), conduct in a manner likely to breach peace and assault on Benjamin Isah and Moses Adeyemi Oke, staff of EKEDC while lawfully performing their duties.
The suspects appeared before Magistrate B.O. Ilo who read the five-count charge to them.
The three suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges while their counsel orally applied for bail.
The magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.
Mr Ilo adjourned the case till 7 July 2020 for trial and ordered them to be remanded at the Ibara facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Abeokuta pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Idemudia advised the public against energy theft, meter bypass and assault against EKEDC staff as the company will go the full length of the law to seek justice against these acts.
He also assured all staff of Eko Electricity Distribution Company of their safety while performing their lawful duties as measures are in place to curb such acts.
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