Assault on IBEDC staff, energy theft attracts jail terms — Official

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Lead Media Relations, Olori Tunwase, has said energy theft and assault on their staff now attract jail term as prescribed in the new harmonised electricity act.

Tunwase disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting held at Jebba service hub.

According to her, electricity consumers who are caught indulging in sharp practices and assaults on staff of IBEDC now risk jail terms ranging from three to five years imprisonment as prescribed in  the new harmonised electricity act recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

“While the new law prescribes three years jail term for those found culpable for assaulting IBEDC staff those caught involving in energy theft risk five years imprisonment.

“Consumers currently owe the company a whopping sum of N25.8 billion of unpaid bills in Jebba,” she said.

Tunwase therefore urged anyone or community who have issues with IBEDC services or its staff to explore legal means by taking their complaints to appropriate channels for amicable resolution rather than descending on them.

She said the era when electricity consumers see IBEDC as social service provider was over, stressing that they have to pay for electricity consumed.

Reports that participants at the forum, including representatives of traditional rulers, requested for debt cancellation.

The engagement would continue in Mokwa, Niger state, on Thursday.