Anthony Iwuoma
A staff of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. James Olayemi, has landed in jail for illegally disconnecting a customer’s electricity supply in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
A magistrate court sitting in Lokoja slammed a six-month jail term on the convict, with an option of N50,000 fine.
The Chief Magistrate, Tanko Muhammed, also ordered for the immediate reconnection of electricity supply to the compound of the complainant, Dennis Osawota.
Osawota, a retired top management staff of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, had dragged Olayemi, the marketing officer and the Regional Manager, Lamidi Obadaki, to court over the damages done to his property and unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to his house even after payment N370,000.
The duo had allegedly committed offences contrary to Regulations 5 and 11 of the Nigeria Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Connection And Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services 2007 and punishable under Section 94 of the electric power sector reform (EPSR) Act 2005.
However, the magistrate acquitted the second defendant, saying available evidence did not link him to illegal act of the first defendant, who acted contrary to Sections 5 and 11 Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission Connection And Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services 2007 and punishable under Section 94 of electric power sector reform (EPSR) Act 2005.
According to Chief Magistrate Mohammed, the provision of Section 5 stated that the electricity consumers are given a maximum of 10 days for payment of electricity bill and three months, before disconnection could be made after AEDC, must have formerly written to inform the customers of the impending disconnection.
Therefore, he ruled: “In view of evidence before me, the complainant has not be given such opportunity, therefore, the first defendant is guilty as charged. I hereby sentence him to six months imprisonment and an option of fine of N50,000.”