Tribunal ‘ll jail electricity thieves – Jos power coy

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), has advocated for a Special Tribunal to be set up aimed at convicting electricity thieves and vandals of electricity installations.

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Jos DISCO speaking through it’s Managing Director, Engr. Hashim Ibrahim, also called for the invocation of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (2004 CAP M17) under which electricity criminals could be tried with stiff penalties through the instrumentality of sections 3(B), 9 and 10 of the Act.

He explained that Section 3(B) of the act states that any person who unlawfully or with intent to destroy or damage any public property, removes, defaces or damages any public property shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years without the option of a fine.

“Activities of vandals and electricity thieves are seriously hampering the operations of the energy sector.

“Most DisCos especially JED are suffering from the menace of vandalism. If it is not Distribution Transformers, cables or feeder pillars, it will be Aluminum Conductors. And the equipment are very expensive. In fact, Vandals have become a thorn in the flesh of DisCos in this country”, he said.

Our correspondent reports that Section 9 of the act states as that, any person who unlawfully disconnects, removes, damages, tampers, meddles with or in any way whatsoever interferes with any plant, works, cables, wire or assembly of wires designed or used for transforming or converting electricity shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

As well as Section 10 stipulating that any person who unlawfully disconnects, removes, damages, tampers, meddles with or in any way whatsoever interferes with any electric fittings, meters or other appliances used for generating, transforming, converting, conveyancing, supplying or selling electricity shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21years.