THREE CONVICTED FOR VANDALIZING IKEJA ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT IN IKORODU AND IKEJA GRA AS COMPANY ENFORCES ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

In line with its unwavering stance against vandalism and the sabotage of electricity infrastructure, Ikeja Electric Plc. has reported the conviction of three individuals by Lagos Magistrate Courts for offences related to the destruction and theft of power distribution assets within its network.

The successful convictions underscore the company’s firm commitment to protecting its installations, ensuring steady service delivery, and holding offenders accountable in collaboration with law enforcement and the judiciary.

On May 5, 2025, the Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu sentenced Adegbite Jamiu to six months’ imprisonment for vandalizing a transformer that supplies power to the Igboye community.

He was charged with conspiracy, unlawful damage, and stealing, and pleaded guilty to all counts. His arrest followed a swift intervention by a vigilant community member who reported the incident to the police. The court directed that the jail terms run concurrently, starting from the date of his arrest.

In a related case, on May 7, 2025, the Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Ikeja, sentenced Jeremiah Chukwuemeka and Joshua Udeh to one year imprisonment each for vandalizing and stealing cables from a transformer on Sobo Arobiodu Street, Ikeja GRA.

The duo, who were arrested on August 15, 2024, faced a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, willful damage, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. They also pleaded guilty and were sentenced accordingly.

Mr. Babatunde Osadare, Chief Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Officer at Ikeja Electric, commended the judgments, expressing confidence that such legal actions would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

“These convictions reinforce our dedication to safeguarding our infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted power supply to our customers,” Osadare said.

“We appreciate the swift actions of the judiciary and security agencies. More importantly, we urge communities to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities, and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.”

He added that acts of vandalism not only disrupt electricity supply but also compromise public safety and economic development. Ikeja Electric, he affirmed, will continue to collaborate with security agencies and community stakeholders to tackle the menace and protect assets critical to service delivery.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to deploying both legal and operational measures to combat vandalism while investing in awareness campaigns, community engagement, and system upgrades to strengthen electricity distribution across its coverage areas.