<div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) stakeholders engagement enters the second day on with the company warning anybody</div> <div dir="auto">engaging in energy theft, vandalism or illegal metering now risks jail term if caught.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">The Managing Director of IBEDC Engr. Kinsley Achife, issued the warning in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, saying this became necessary following incessant cases of energy theft, vandalism and illegal meter usage in the State.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">Achife who was represented by the Lead Media Officer of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, reminded customers that energy theft is a crime and punishable according to the law.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">He said the company called for the engagement programme with the customers to seek better working relationships and to particularly appeal to them to assist in paying their debts which have collectively hits N67billion.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">Achife said, "We have called this meeting to seek better working relationships with our customers but this we cannot do if they are not paying for the services being rendered."</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">He said that the new Electricity Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu provides for punishment for energy theft and assault of its officials.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">Achife added that the Electricity Act also recommended that whoever is caught using illegal power or assaulting IBEDC staff is liable to the law and corresponding punishment.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">While pleading to the people to embrace unity with the staff, he lamented that energy theft, vandalism, and illicit meters have grown the debt of customers to IBEDC, in Ogun State to over N67billion, out of which Ijebu Ode area has over N7 billion.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">He appealed to customers to desist from tampering with meters, vandalization of electric installation, the offense attracts 21 years imprisonment.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">"Another thing is vandalism, because the law states that do not tamper with electrical installation, and in case of vandalism, it attracts 21 years jail term.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">Achife said, "we want to appeal to the people of Ijebu on energy theft, we are losing billions or Naira to energy theft, as we speak, Ogun State total debt total is over N74billion. While total NMD which is Non Maximum Demand Customers is over a 67billion.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">He warned the people who may want to acquire meter to follow the right channel stipulated by IBEDC, warning that any meter bought outside the recognised channel could be a risky venture.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">He explained that moving of meter from one location to another without being authorized by the IBEDC is also an illegal act.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">"Illegal removal or movement of meter from one place to another is a form of energy theft," he said.</div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">On assault on IBEDC staff, Achife appealed to the customers to stop beating and maiming its staff, saying that they can always report such staff for appropriate disciplinary measures.</div>
