Six maximum demand (MD1) customers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were taken before the Itori Magistrate Court in Ogun for unlawful connections.Without addressing the matters surrounding their disconnection, the defendants were arraigned on a single count of illegally connecting to the IBEDC network.
According to information obtained by The Guardian, the corporation disconnected the MD1 clients due to significant outstanding debt that was not paid.
However, the consumers continued to use the supply and illegally reconnected to the IBEDC network without resolving the issue.
When the company's monitoring team saw this behavior, they reported it to the police station, which led to the prompt arrest and arraignment of all the clients before the Itori Magistrate Court in Itori, Ogun State.
The accused was granted bail by presiding magistrate Mr. A.O. Sodeinde, acting chief magistrate; nevertheless, they will be kept at the Ewekoro/Itori Divisional Police Station until they can satisfy the conditions of their bail.
For additional hearing, the subject has been postponed to Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
IBEDC Ogun Region's Regional Head, Engineer Abdulrasaq Jimoh, urged clients not to enact laws on their own.
He pointed out that instances of energy theft, such as unauthorized connections, bye-passing, meter tampering, and racketeering, were becoming more common and were having an impact on IBEDC's operations, performance, and revenue.
"The business is already patrolling our network with the goal of apprehending defaulters in cooperation with law enforcement.
"All those responsible will face legal action and be made public in national newspapers in an effort to stop these evil deeds from harming the company."