The Chief Magistrate Court, Yabo in Sokoto State, Alhaji Bashar Ibrahim has sentenced two vandals, Faruk Hussaini, Ila Yellow and their accomplice, Kabiru Bala to prison for tampering with and stealing power supply equipment belonging to Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company.
The 1st and 2nd convicts were sentenced to six months imprisonment for each of the four offences while the 3rd convict was sentenced to one month imprisonment and a fine of N10000 for the offence of receiving stolen property.
In addition to the imprisonment, the convicts were order to pay to the nominal complainant, Kaduna Electric, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty thousand Naira (N150, 000) being the value of the stolen incoming cable.
The accused were arraigned before the Court for the offences of Criminal conspiracy, Trespass, Mischief, Theft and receiving stolen property contrary to sections 97,342,334,287 and 317 of the penal code.
The Prosecuting Police Officer, Sergeant Abdulkareem Abubakar and the Investigation Police Officer, Sergeant Saminu Adamu had earlier told the court that sometime in August 2018, the accused persons were reported to have criminally trespassed into the Kaduna Electric’s distribution sub-station situated at Adarawa village and mischievously destroyed its feeder pillar box and other accessories. They also cut and made away with the incoming cable.
The Investigation Police Officer, Sergeant Saminu Adamu while been led on evidence by the Prosecutor further told the Court that on the 8thday of September, 2018, Faruku Hussaini, Abubakar Altine, Ila Yellow (currently at large) went back to the same transformer with intent to cut and made away with the remaining cables but the 1st and 3rd accused persons were apprehended by the Adarawa village vigilante group members while Ila Yellow escaped.
He also told the Court that in the course of investigation, kabiru Bala (the 4th accused person) was discovered to have received and bought the stolen cable from the accused persons at the cost of Twenty six thousand naira only(N26,000), the stolen cable was also recovered from the said Kabiru Bala.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 5 witnesses and tendered 8 exhibits, including the statements of the accused person.
After careful evaluation of all witnesses presented before the court by both the prosecution and the accused persons, the Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Bashar Ibrahim found Faruk Hussaini, Ila yellow (still at large) and Kabiru Bala guilty as charged.
The first and 3rd convicts were sentenced to six months imprisonment for each of the four offences while the 4th convict was sentenced to 1 month imprisonment and a fine of N10000 for the offence of receiving stolen property.
In addition to the imprisonment, the convicts were order to pay to the nominal complainant, Kaduna Electric, the sum of One Hundred and Fifty thousand Naira (N150, 000) being the value of the stolen incoming cable.
The Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Bashar Ibrahim held that prima facie case has not been established against the 2nd accused person and discharged him accordingly
The Head, Corporate Communication of Kaduna Electric, Abdulazeez Abdullahi applauded the judgement and called on the customers of the Company to be more vigilant and report and suspicious person or movement around power supply infrastructures. He described vandalism of power equipment and installations as posing set-back to the Company’s efforts at providing steady and qualitative power to its customers.