Two men bag 4-year jail terms for vandalizing, stealing PHED cables
Two men, Sampson Aniekan and Samuel Akaninyene, have been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, for vandalising facilities belonging to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc.
It was gathered that the convicts on November 3, 2021, vandalised and stole cables identified to be XLPE cables from the Udofa Sub-station of the PHED Plc.
The Head, Corporate Communications, PHED, John Anonyai, in a statement in Port Harcourt, said the convicts were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment each.
Anonyai, who described the judgement as a relief to the firm, stated that the company suffered huge losses when over 210 power transformers of various sizes and other electrical accessories were vandalised by miscreants.
The firm’s spokesperson also decried the incessant assault on its staff by some members of the public.
“The incident occurred at Oron on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, where two fierce-looking men indebted to PHED attacked the lines worker simply because he advised them to make payment to avert possible disconnection.
“The culprits were sentenced for offences punishable under section 556(1)(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 Vol. 2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 2000.”
