A High Court in Ebonyi State has sentenced four men to prison for damaging electricity facilities belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). The power firm confirmed the development in a statement released by its spokesperson, Emeka Ezeh.
The convicted individuals — Chukwuma Onwe, Okefe Stanley, Aleke Kingsley, and Egba Friday — were found guilty of offences linked to the destruction and illegal tampering of EEDC installations. Justice John Igboji of the Ohaukwu Division delivered the judgment, issuing four-year jail terms to each of the offenders.
Ezeh explained that Onwe’s case was particularly severe, as he faced multiple charges including conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful interference with transformer cables. His arrest dates back to September 2023 when he was caught in connection with the vandalism of a transformer in Ntsulakpa, Ezzamgbo.
The other three — Stanley, Kingsley, and Friday — were apprehended earlier on June 5, 2023, by a local vigilante team in Oshituma, Ohaukwu LGA.
EEDC praised the court’s ruling, saying it reflects ongoing efforts to curb the rising attacks on power infrastructure across the South-East. The company also urged that other pending cases be concluded quickly.
Ezeh recalled that this is not an isolated incident. Only a few months earlier, four different vandals were handed seven-year sentences by another Ebonyi judge after they damaged a 7.5MVA injection substation in Afikpo North.
He warned that vandalism continues to hinder electricity supply, as the company must repeatedly divert scarce resources to repair damaged equipment. Residents were encouraged to help protect installations in their neighbourhoods to avoid power disruptions.
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