Christian Ejike Anigbo was arrested by the police and taken to the Kirikiri Correctional facility for by-passing an electric meter.
According to an eyewitness, Christian Ejike Anigbo was arrested by law enforcement agents on November 28, 2022.
Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 states that an offence can be committed if there is a conspiracy with others now at large.
He was charged with an offence contrary to and punishable under section 340 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, for the illegal reconnection of electricity.
Ejike was charged for conducting himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by connecting electricity in a public place and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 168 (d) of Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The Defendant was granted bail in the sum of Two hundred Thousand Naira, two sureties, which are to provide evidence of tax payment, after he pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.
The addresses of the sureties are to be verified.
He was held at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility until his bail conditions were perfect.
The high incidence of energy theft is one of the major challenges affecting the efficient service delivery of distribution companies.
He stated that energy theft is any act by a customer/consumer that hinders or limits the ability of a Disco to properly account or receive value for energy supplied.
Members of the society should condemn and discourage the act.
Osadare said that since the law frowns at energy theft, it is morally wrong to take or use electricity that does not belong to you or that is meant for the entire community with the aim of avoiding payment or to dubiously pass on the payment responsibility to others.
It is the collective responsibility of everyone in our communities to ensure that the provision of electricity services is not disrupted because of tampering with meters and acts of illegal connections.
He said that they would continue to work hard to ensure an excellent customer experience.
While advising customers to avoid any form of energy theft, he praised the traditional rulers, community leaders, influencers, youth leaders and security agencies for providing dependable support and for the role they play in protecting IE infrastructure against energy theft and vandals.
He urged members of the public to report any form of energy theft, meter bypass, illegal connection and suspected person around electrical facilities to Ikeja Electric’s whistle blower hotlines 08008476337, 08000TIPOFFS.
