Unlawful Disconnection: Abuja electric firm to appeal worker’s jail sentence

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has said it will appeal the judgement by a magistrate’s court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, which convicted one of its employees over unlawful disconnection of a customer.

This was disclosed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, AEDC, Mr Oyebode Fadipe, in a notice he posted on Instagram on Sunday.

On Thursday, August 12, a Lokoja chief magistrate’s court sentenced a worker of AEDC, Mr James Olayemi, to six months’ imprisonment for unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to the premises of the company’s customer, Dennis Osanwuta.

AEDC is the franchise electricity distribution company supplying electricity from the national grid to consumers in Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The notice read in part, “AEDC Plc is dissatisfied with the judgment of the magistrate court and has therefore instructed its lawyers to appeal the decision of the court as a reflection of her position, which is contrary to the judgment of the court.

“The management of AEDC Plc hereby assures its esteemed customers and stakeholders of its commitment to the obedience of the laws and regulations that are relevant to its operations in the NESI.”

Delivering the judgment, the Chief Magistrate, Dr Tanko Muhammed, also ordered immediate reconnection of electricity supply to Osanwuta’s premises.

The judge said Olayemi, the first defendant in the suit, was convicted and sentenced for running contrary to various sections of the extant laws on electricity services.

He, however, absolved the AEDC Regional Manager, Lameed Obadaki, the second defendant, of any complicity on the two counts of criminal conspiracy and unlawful disconnection.

He said Olayemi’s offence was punishable under Section 94 of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005. Osanwuta, a management staff of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Lokoja, instituted the suit against both Olayemi and Obadaki.

“AEDC brought a bill of N275,000 to me for February 2020 which I paid. Also in March, the same company brought a bill of N130,000, which I paid, even though the bills were in contention.

“I was not owing AEDC a kobo when the duo of James Olayemi and Lameed Obadaki, without prior notice, went ahead to disconnect my light and all entreaties to restore supply failed,” he said.