The Regional head of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution company in Kwara region, Engr Oluwatoyin Akinyosoye, has said that Whistle blowers who exposed those tampering with electricity meters in the area will be entitled to 10% of the penalty payable on the offence.
Akinyosoye whose jurisdiction covered Kwara and part of Oyo, Niger and Kogi states said that cases of energy theft, Meter Tampering, bye-passing and racketeering was on the increase in the area stated that it is affecting the revenue generation drive of the electricity distribution company.
He said that seven suspects were recently arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps in Kwara state over alleged theft of Energy as well as Electricity and Metre tampering.
He stated that the suspects were picked up in various locations of Ilorin including Amayo, Ganmo, Olunlade, Kangu, Irewolede and Sango areas during a raid by the combined team of NSCDC and officials of IIBEDC.
The suspects were alleged to have been involved in energy stealing and meter bye-passing in their respective houses.
Akinyosoye who said that IBEDC discovered that it was running at a loss stated that “we discovered that what we get as revenue on monthly basis fell short of the energy we purchased from those that are in charge of energy production adding every bit of energy stolen is a loss to IBEDC.”
He said that most of the arrested suspects were found to have bye passed the meter which is a form of economic sabotage.”
The Regional head while noting that IBEDC can still boast of good customers in the region said that the company had embark on sensitisation programme for it Customers in the region and urged the people to expose the bad element in the society.
“IBEDC will give 10 er cent of the penalty that would be paid by those that flouted the law as compensation to anyone who reports cases of meter bye-passing or Meter Tampering in any area of the region.”
He however advised people who discovered any fault in their meters to report such directly to their offices for correction of such fault instead of engaging roadside technicians to fix such meters adding that IBEDC had experts that can correct Meter faults..
Speaking earlier on the arrest of the suspects, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kwara state Command, Ayoola Michael said that the raid of some areas was a continuation of the war started by the Security Agency on those involved in the vandalization of government property in the state.
Ayoola who recalled that five suspects were arrested at the University of Ilorin Staff quarter in Jalala Estate over alleged theft of Electric Cables and Wires said that they were already facing prosecution in the law Court.
The PRO who described those involved in energy theft and Meter Tampering and racketeering said as economic saboteurs adding that “the NSCDC would not relent in waging war against them until we get rid of them and make the property of government safe.
“We have commenced raid of houses in some areas in the state to ensure that people do not tamper with electricity meters. We are warning those that usually tamper with electricity meters that It will no longer be business as usual.”
The PRO said that the arrested suspects are being investigated and interrogated by officials of the NSCDC and would soon be charged to Court on completion of the investigation.
