Court remands two in Jos prison for energy theft

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, capital of Plateau State presided over by Justice Agishe has remanded two suspected Abubakar Salihu Zakari and Pam Vincent Joseph in prison custody for energy theft.

Zakari and Pam popularly known as Habu Gali and Vinny respectively were charged to court for by-passing meters installed by Jos Electricity Distribution Plc in various places within and around Jos metropolis. This arraignment followed the criminal complaint leveled against the accused persons by the management of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc for illegally by-passing the pole mounted pre-paid meters for customers.

When the charges preferred against them were read to them by the prosecutor, Abubakar Zakari pleaded guilty while Pam Joseph pleaded not guilty.

They were both remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date, 21st September, 2017 when final pronouncements would be made on their fate.

Addressing Journalists shortly after the court sitting, the Head, Legal Department of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, Barrister Wilson Eryum Tingir, disclosed that the company was going to aggressively pursue the prosecution of energy depredators and those found culpable of vandalizing the company’s installations.

Tingir, who is an Assistant General Manager with the company cautioned members of the general public to desist from act capable of jeopardizing the interest of the company as according to him, anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

In his words, “it is an act of economic sabotage to engage on by-pass, vandalization of electricity installations that will impact negatively on the industry in particular and the society as a whole. The company will no longer tolerate acts of sabotage”.

The Chief legal officer of the company therefore called on community leaders, family heads, landlords, vigilante groups to be watchful and eschew falling prey to the antics of energy thieves who might cajole them into this negative vices stressing that a surveillance team put in place by the company in conjunction with security agencies “are constantly on the watch out”.