Teenager, 3 others jailed over attack on EEDC staff, properties

A Magistrate Court sitting in Oyi, Nteje, Anambra State, presided over by His Worship Uzoma Udeze, has sentenced a 19-year-old boy Chukwudi Igboekwuto to two years and six months imprisonment, TopNaija.ng can confirm.

The teen was jailed for vandalizing a distribution substation belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, located at Genesis Estate, Omife 3-3, Anambra State.

The items vandalised from the substation are: 2×5 Meters 500mm 2 Single core cables.

Similarly, His Worship J. I. Austine-Okeke of Oke Uvuru Magistrate Court, Mbaise, Imo State, has also sentenced Chika George (32 years), Simon Nmerole (61 years) and Jonah Eberechi (20 years) to one year imprisonment respectively, without an option of fine, for attacking staff of EEDC attached to Okpofe/Uvuru Service Center, under Mbaise district, Imo State.

The trio were said to have unleashed machete cut on one of the EEDC staff while they were on duty.

EEDC head of communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who confirmed the jail sentences said the the company’s staff were attacked on the 25th of September, 2017, when the apartment of Simon Nmerole was disconnected for nonpayment of electricity bill.

“Instead of arranging to pay his bill, he went on to mobilise his cohorts who disrupted activities of the EEDC staff. It was in the process that Chika George rushed to the scene with a machete and inflicted a cut on one of the staff.

“The trio, who are indigenes of Umuekeugo Ogbor Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, were charged and prosecuted on five count charges bordering on assault, threat and conspiracy,” Ezeh hinted.

Meanwhile, the EEDC has reiterated its commitment to “protecting its staff and prosecuting anyone or group that attacks or inflicts harm on them while going about their legitimate duties.”

According to the spokesman, “the company is also not relenting in prosecuting those vandalising its electrical installations.

“It is no longer business as usual for electricity customers who are in the habit of assaulting EEDC staff, and other elements in the society whose job is to vandalise electricity installations, as we are not relenting in our effort in ensuring that they are apprehended and prosecuted accordingly.

“Customers are therefore advised to be civil and not take laws into their hands. They should make use of the available customer redress platform across our 18 District offices and 147 Service Centers.

“As critical stakeholders, customers should be more vigilant and join hands with EEDC in ensuring that these installations located in their neighbourhood to serve them are protected. They should not allow the very few elements in the society subject them to darkness.‎”