5 hours ago
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The Runjin Sambo Chief Magistrate’s Court in Sokoto state, Chief Magistrate Isa Idris Marafa, has sentenced one Dahiru Ibrahim and four others to seven years in prison each for vandalism and theft of a 50KVA distribution transformer and other power supply infrastructure.
A statement by the Head of Corporate Communications of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said the five accused persons were arrested by men of the Sokoto state Police Command after a distribution substation located at Runjin Sambo area of Sokoto metropolis was vandalised.
He said Dahiru Ibrahim, the principal culprit, and his co-conspirators were charged and convicted of criminal conspiracy, mischief and theft, contrary to sections 60, 323 and 275 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law of 2019.
He described the verdict as a “victory to decency and the collective resolve of all stakeholders to fight vandalism of power supply infrastructure in the Company’s franchise.”
He commended both the Sokoto Police Command and the Judiciary for diligent investigations and prosecution as well as the courage to impose the punishment “which shall serve as deterrent to others.”
The convicts were however given the option of a fine of N50,000 each for the first count; N150,000 each for the second count and N100,000 each for the third count, while the first accused person, Dahiru Ibrahim, was ordered to N1.5 million as compensation to Kaduna Electric.
In a related development, Chief Magistrate Isa Idris Marafa has sentenced one Sirajo Umar and one other person for criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit mischief, offences punishable under sections 60 and 323 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law of 2019.
The two convicts would spend the next two years and eight months behind bars or pay the sum of N50, 000 and N150, 000 each respectively as fine.
