The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Tuesday arraigned three individuals, Sikiru Oyedokun (50), Oladimeji Monsuru (46), and Abraham Ebenezer (33), before a Magistrate Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun State, for the alleged theft of electricity property valued at ₦22 million.
The defendants were accused of the fraudulent appropriation of 165,033.18 kilowatts of electricity worth ₦22,887,474.28, property of IBEDC.
They faced a two-count charge of fraudulent appropriation, an offence allegedly committed between September 17, 2019, and May 5, 2022, as well as between August 3, 2023, and December 5, 2024, at Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station in Ogijo, within the Sagamu Magisterial District.
The offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006, and for the unlawful diversion of electricity power, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 400 of the same code.
The charge sheet reads in part:
“That you, Sikiru Oyedokun ‘M,’ Oladimeji Monsuru ‘M,’ Abraham Ebenezer ‘M,’ and others at large, between 17th September 2019 to 5th May, 2022, and 3rd August 2023 to 5th December, 2024, at Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station in Ogijo, Ogun State, in the Sagamu Magisterial District, did unlawfully conspire together to commit an offence to wit fraudulent appropriation of electricity (power) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Sikiru Oyedokun ‘M,’ Oladimeji Monsuru ‘M,’ Abraham Ebenezer ‘M,’ and others at large, on the same months, years, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did wilfully and unlawfully divert the use of electricity (power) to Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station at Ogijo, Ogun State, to the quantum of 165,033.18 kilowatt hours valued at Twenty-Two Million Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy-Four Naira Twenty Kobo (₦22,887,474.28), property of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 400 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, while their counsel applied for bail on their behalf.
Presiding Magistrate Olayinka Idowu granted bail to each of the defendants in the sum of ₦7 million, with one surety each. The sureties are required to reside in Ogun State, possess landed property within the magisterial district, and provide evidence of tax payments to the Ogun State Government.
The matter was adjourned to January 9 and 10, 2025, for trial.
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