Efforts by electricity distribution companies to check the incessant attacks on electricity facilities by vandals recorded a major boost in Abuja as a Federal High Court has handed a 2-year jail term to one Emmanuel Alao, who was caught vandalizing an Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) substation in Utako District of the Federal Capital.
Mr. Alao, who was apprehended in the criminal act on the 24th of December, 2016 by an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC), was charged to court for contravening Sections 1(a) and (10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (2004), which prescribes Life Imprisonment as maximum punishment for the offence.
A statement issued by the Head of Public Relations & Media of AEDC, Ahmed Shekarau, disclosed that the convict had earlier been
paraded before journalists by the NSCDC ahead of his arraignment in court, adding that Mr. Alao was paraded alongside numerous items found in his possession, which include: 1×2 meter XLPE cable; 2×1.5 meter XLPE cable; 3×1 meter XLPE cable; and 4×1 meter 16mm conductor.
Other items found in his possession include 5×2 transformer bars; 6×1 handsaw blade; 7×3 spanner; 8×3 bolts; 9×7 nuts; 10×1 screw driver; 11x11x3 bolt socket spanner; 12×1 handle of bolt socket and 13×2 lighter.
The statement disclosed further that on the 18th of January, 2017, the NSCDC preferred a one count charge against the convict in the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) and Emmanuel Alao, with the Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/01/2017 before the Federal High Court.
Delivering judgment in the case after the accused person pleaded guilty to the charge, the Court convicted Mr. Alao and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour, being a first offender.
This conviction, which the AEDC considers as a milestone in the fight against vandalism, is coming on the heels of incessant acts of vandalism of electrical facilities, which became very rife in the Federal Capital Territory in the last quarter of 2016.
The utility said in Wuse District alone over 18 substations were vandalized with several meters of cables and other accessories carted away by the vandals.
