The Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ejigbo has handed down sentences to two individuals for vandalizing transformers owned by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by IKEDC spokesperson Kingsley Okotie, it was revealed that Abubakar Alido was sentenced to one year in prison for damaging a 500KVA transformer located on Michael Aladesuyi Street, Egbeda, Lagos, part of the Omo Osho 11KV Feeder.
The second individual, Ishola Olatunji, received a six-month sentence for attempting to vandalize a transformer on Karimu Laka Street, Egbeda, Lagos, which is part of the Orelope 11KV Feeder. Okotie explained that Alido was caught in the act by a security guard and handed over to the authorities.
According to the statement, Alido was apprehended while tampering with transformer cables and was subsequently brought before Magistrate Court 1, Ejigbo, on June 14, 2024. He was charged with willful damage to transformer cables under Section 339, punishable by Section 350 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015. Alido admitted guilt when the charges were read and was sentenced on July 2.
Similarly, Olatunji was caught in the act of vandalizing a 500KVA transformer by residents of the Karimu Laka community. The community members turned him over to the police, and he was arraigned at Magistrate Court 1, Ejigbo, Lagos, on March 11. Initially pleading not guilty, he later changed his plea to guilty, resulting in a six-month prison sentence, starting from the date of his arraignment.
Abayomi Bolorunde, Manager of the Akowonjo Business Unit, expressed approval of the sentences and hopes they will deter others from engaging in similar activities. He reaffirmed IKEDC’s dedication to preventing vandalism of its infrastructure, highlighting the considerable damage and customer inconvenience caused by such acts.
Bolorunde encouraged communities to stay alert and report any suspicious behavior, noting that vandals are constantly finding new ways to disrupt electricity supply and affect customers.
