The Federal High Court in Abeokuta Division, Ogun State, has handed down convictions to three individuals for unlawfully tampering, disconnecting, and damaging electrical installations belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Chibueze Emmanuel, Michael Genesis, and Ojuolape Olaitan stood trial before Hon. Justice A. Demi-Ajayi, who presided over the case.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Emmanuel and Genesis were apprehended in January 2022, while Olaitan was arrested in January 2024.
Following their arraignment, the trio pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting the court to adjourn the proceedings for a thorough review of the facts.
Upon review, Hon. Justice A. Demi-Ajayi delivered a stern judgment, sentencing each defendant to six years of imprisonment.
The severity of the punishment underscores the gravity of the offense and serves as a deterrent to others contemplating similar actions.
The conviction comes amidst ongoing efforts by IBEDC and the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences (SIPTEO) to combat energy theft within the IBEDC’s franchise area.
Energy theft, which includes offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, has inflicted substantial financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira on the company.
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