WorldStage Newsonline– His Worship J. I. Austine-Okeke, recently, at Oke Uvuru Magistrate Court, Mbaise, Imo State, sentenced Chika George (32 years), Simon Nmerole (61 years) and Jonah Eberechi (20 years) to one year imprisonment respectively, without an option of fine, for attacking staff of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) attached to Okpofe/Uvuru Service Center, under Mbaise district, Imo State, unleashing machete cut on one of them while they were on duty.
EEDC in a statement reiterated commitment to protecting its staff and prosecuting anyone or group that attacks or inflicts harm on them while going about their legitimate duties.
The company said it was also not relenting in prosecuting those vandalising its electrical installations.
The incident was said to have taken place on the 25th of September, 2017, when the apartment of Simon Nmerole was disconnected for nonpayment of electricity bill and instead of arranging to pay his bill, he went on to mobilise his cohorts who disrupted activities of the EEDC staff and Chika George rushed to the scene with a machete and inflicted a cut on one of the staff.
The trio, who are said to be indigenes of Umuekeugo Ogbor Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, were charged and prosecuted on five count charges bordering on assault, threat and conspiracy.
In a related development, His Worship Uzoma Udeze, at the Chief Magistrate Court of Oyi Magisterial District, Nteje, Anambra State, sentenced 19 year old Chukwudi Igboekwuto to two years and six months imprisonment, for attacking a distribution substation belonging to EEDC, located at Genesis Estate, Omife 3-3, Anambra State. The items vandalised from the substation are: 2×5 Meters 500mm 2 Single core cables.
“It is no longer business as usual for electricity customers who are in the habit of assaulting EEDC staff, and other elements in the society whose job is to vandalise electricity installations, as we are not relenting in our effort in ensuring that they are apprehended and prosecuted accordingly,” according to the statement.
“Customers are therefore advised to be civil and not take laws into their hands. They should make use of the available customer redress platform across our 18 District offices and 147 Service Centers.
“As critical stakeholders, customers should be more vigilant and join hands with EEDC in ensuring that these installations located in their neighbourhood to serve them are protected. They should not allow the very few elements in the society subject them to darkness.”
