EBONYI COURT JAILS FOUR FOR VANDALISM, THEFT OF ELECTRICITY INSTALLATIONS

August 14, 2025

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The High Court of Ebonyi State sitting in Afikpo, presided over by Justice Nicholas Nwode, has sentenced four men to seven years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, vandalism, and stealing electricity infrastructure.

The convicts Ikechukwu Esseh, Ikedinachi Uche, Ukpai Godwin, and Uchenna Kalu were arrested on November 28, 2023, after attacking a 7.5MVA Injection Substation belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC) at Education Board Road, Afikpo, in Afikpo North Local Government Area.

According to a statement on Wednesday by the Group Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, the court, after reviewing the evidence and considering the prevalence of vandalism in the area, handed the accused five years for conspiracy, seven years for vandalism, and five years for stealing – all to run concurrently without the option of a fine.

Ezeh commended the judiciary for the verdict, describing it as a deterrent to others, and appreciated the General Youth President and Afikpo Task Force Team for helping to apprehend the vandals.

He lamented that vandalism has continued to drain the company’s resources, diverting funds that could improve customer service, and urged residents to safeguard electricity installations in their communities to prevent service disruptions.