An Igbosere magistrate court in Lagos State last week sentenced 28-year-old Timothy Jacob to six months imprisonment on a three-count charge of conspiracy, wilful and unlawful damage and attempted theft of armoured cables belonging to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company.
According to a statement released by the company, Jacob was apprehended by security guards of Lekki Phase 1 while cutting an armoured cable at 21, Hopunu Wusu Street, Lekki Phase 1 on Sunday April 14, 2019. He was then handed over to men of the Nigeria Police Force of the Mobolaji Johnson post in Lekki, Lagos, for further interrogation and investigation.
In the statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Department of EKEDC, Godwin Idemudia, the accused confessed to committing the crimes he was accused of and named one Shedrach as his partner.
“A man buys the cables from us,” he was said to have revealed.
The statement said the police had launched a manhunt for the convict’s accomplices.
Idemudia mentioned that Jacob pleaded guilty to the three-count charge before the court.
The magistrate, Mrs T. B. Are, sentenced him to six months imprisonment with hard labour for counts one and two separately, and three months imprisonment for count three, all to run concurrently, without an option of fine or community service.
The EKEDC spokesperson reiterated the company’s zero tolerance for any form of vandalism, tampering and theft of EKEDC equipment, and vowed that all perpetrators of such acts would be brought to book.
He extolled the efforts of the security men and the police for sweeping into action in good time to apprehend the vandal.
Idemudia advised the general public to stay alert and report suspected acts that could damage electricity installations in their communities, saying this would help in curbing illicit acts.
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