BEDC arraigns four in Edo for vandalism

THE Benin Electricity Development Company (BEDC) has arraigned four persons aged between 26 and 30 years in the Benin Division of the Federal High Court on a three-count charge of damaging the company’s properties.

A copy of the charge sheet made available to The Guardian yesterday marked FHC/B/369/2015, indicted that the four persons allegedly committed the offence in Ighalo Irrua community in Esan Central Local Council.

The first count reads that the three committed felony by tampering with electric plant work and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, ap M.17 Vol. 9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The arraigned persons were also accused of unlawfully disconnecting, “removing, damaging, tampering, meddling with and interfering with plants, work wires or assembly of wires designed or used for transforming, or converting electricity, property of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)” and they, therefore, committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (9) of the Miscellaneous offences Act M. 17 Vol 9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offenders were also willfully and unlawfully with intent to destroy, damage electric cable wires and transformer by rendering it non-functional”. It said the offence is punishable under At M.17 Vol 9 laws of the federation 2004.

The case being heard under Justice MA Liman has been adjourned to October 21.