Court awards compensation to AEDC, fines culprit N5,000 over illegal connection

A Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday has ordered one Fidelis Adamade to pay compensation to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for illegally connecting electricity from its network. Adamade, who is the hotel manager of Palace Hotel, Apo, was convicted on charges of theft. The convict pleaded guilty and promised that he […]

A Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday has ordered one Fidelis Adamade to pay compensation to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for illegally connecting electricity from its network.

Adamade, who is the hotel manager of Palace Hotel, Apo, was convicted on charges of theft.

The convict pleaded guilty and promised that he would never engage in such act again.

The Magistrate, Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, ordered the convict to pay N5,000 fine, and also N2,500 compensation to AEDC.

AEDC spokesperson, Ahmed Shekarau said the court order was to serve as deterrent to electricity consumers who choose to illegally connect to electricity sources without authorization.

The Daily Trust reports that power firms have raised alarm severally on the rising cases of energy theft and the bypassing of meters which they said accounts for a significant loss of revenue under their various networks.

Earlier the prosecutor, Pureheart Agabaenwere, had told the court that the illegal connection was discovered on July 28, by joint task force of AEDC and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during a routine inspection.

Agabaenwere said from a detailed investigation, it was discovered that the hotel had been consuming electricity in the whole facility using a 2.5mm cable without authorisation.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code.

He also urged the court to summarily try the convict in line with the provision of Section 118 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act.