A staff of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Bamidele Rasaq, who was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State and thereafter charged to a Chief Magistrate Court had been sentenced to one-year imprisonment over his involvement in vandalisation of AEDC installations.
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The Chief Marketing Officer of AEDC, Mr. Donald Etim, in a statement issued Wednesday, the company has zero tolerance for vandalism of its network assets and as such has resolved to ensure maximum punishment for anyone who vandalised its electrical installations irrespective of who is involved,whether staff of AEDC or members of the general public.
He noted that in the case of staff disciplinary measures would take their full course which may even be outright dismissal and loss of all employee benefits. He added that vandalism of electricity network infrastructure is a serious offence punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 1(9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act LFN 2004.
“In a related recent incident, an upper Sharia Court sitting in Minna, Niger State, handed a one-year jail term to one Abdulsalamad Abubakar who was caught vandalising an AEDC substation in Paida junction of Minna,” the statement further revealed.
According to the statement, Abdulsalamad who was apprehended in the criminal act on the 29th of March, 2022 by an official of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), was charged to court for contravening Sections 123 and 385 of the Sharia Penal Code law of Niger state, which prescribes five years’ imprisonment punishment for the offence.
The convict had earlier been paraded before journalists by the NPF ahead of his arraignment in court alongside numerous items found in his possession, which included: 15-metre XLPE cable; 300mm incomer cable; and 5 meters of 150mm.
AEDC in the statement assured the public thus: “The Management will not relent in its effort to tackle vandalism and other crimes on its network.
We are committed to ensuring that apprehended vandals are tried in accordance with the law and made to face the consequences of their actions without any prejudice.”
To curtail the menace of vandalism and energy theft on its distribution infrastructure, AEDC said it would continue to partner with security agencies, while imploring all members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around power installations in their areas through its various contact channels.
, Bamidele Rasaq, who was arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State and thereafter charged to a Chief Magistrate Court had been sentenced to one-year imprisonment over his involvement in vandalisation of AEDC installations.){kind=link}