Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has secured the conviction of four persons involved in vandalising its facilities in Ebonyi State.
EEDC’s Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
He said one of the convicts, Chukwuma Onwe, was on November 12, 2025, sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Justice John Igboji of the Ebonyi State High Court, Ohaukwu Judicial Division, sitting in Ezzangbo.
Onwe was found guilty on a three-count charge of conspiracy, damage and unlawful disconnection of transformer armoured cables, and stealing—offences contrary to the Ebonyi State Criminal Code, Cap 33, Laws of Ebonyi State 2009.
“On the conspiracy charge, Onwe received a three-year sentence, while the charges of vandalism and stealing earned him four years each. All terms are to run concurrently,” Ezeh said.
Onwe was arrested by the police in September 2023 for vandalising an EEDC transformer at Ntsulakpa, Ezzangbo community.
Similarly, on November 7, 2025, the same court sentenced Okefe Stanley, Aleke Kingsley, and Egba Friday to four years’ imprisonment each for vandalism, unlawful disconnection, damage, and removal of aluminium conductors belonging to EEDC.
The trio were convicted of conspiracy (three years) and vandalism/stealing (four years each), with all sentences to run concurrently. They were arrested on June 5, 2023, by the Oshituma Community vigilante group in Ohaukwu LGA.
Ezeh also recalled that in August, four other vandals—Ikechukwu Esseh, Ikedinachi Uche, Ukpai Godwin, and Uchenna Kalu—were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by Justice Nicholas Nwode for attacking a 7.5MVA injection substation at Education Board Road, Afikpo.
The EEDC management commended the judiciary for the judgments and urged speedy trial of other pending vandalism cases. It also appreciated the Nigerian Police and the Ohaukwu vigilante group for their vigilance.
Ezeh lamented the heavy toll of vandalism on EEDC’s operations, saying the company continues to channel scarce resources into restoring damaged equipment—funds that could have improved service delivery.
He urged customers to remain vigilant and safeguard electricity installations in their communities, noting that vandalism leads to prolonged service disruptions and public inconvenience.
