Edo: Vandal bags two-year jail term for transformer theft

A two-count vandalism case involving the destruction of a 200KVA transformer has ended with the conviction and sentencing of Abubakar Dauda to two years’ imprisonment by the Oredo Magistrate Court II, Benin City.

Dauda was convicted on August 4 after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy and stealing.

He was arrested after vandalising the Amusement Park 200KVA transformer in the Country Home area of Benin City and handed over to the New Etete Police Station on July 12.

He was arraigned on July 14 and remanded in custody before his re-arraignment and guilty plea on August 4.

The prosecutor told the court that the vandalism by Dauda and his accomplices, who are still at large, plunged more than 700 households into prolonged darkness and hardship.

After considering the evidence and the value of the vandalised BEDC assets, the presiding Chief Magistrate, C. E. Oghuma, found Dauda guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison.

He is currently serving his sentence at the Benin Correctional Centre.

Reacting to the judgment, BEDC Head of Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, commended the court, describing the conviction as an important step in tackling electricity infrastructure vandalism.

Gbiwen said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to those involved in the destruction and theft of electricity infrastructure, noting that such acts cause financial losses and deprive communities of essential power services.

She urged residents to protect electricity facilities, report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities and avoid patronising dealers in stolen electricity equipment.

Gbiwen reaffirmed BEDC’s commitment to working with security agencies and other stakeholders to curb vandalism and improve sustainable electricity service delivery across its franchise areas.