The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command, on Friday, paraded three suspects, Hassan Usman, Uzor Anyawu and Peter Etamen for stealing smart card prepaid meters and vandalising transformer cables belonging to Ikeja Electric located at Ketu, Lagos.
The Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Gabriel Abafi, who made the disclosure while parading the suspects before journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said Usman who allegedly vandalised the transformer cables was arrested on October 28.
“The two other suspects, Anyawu and Etamen, who were arrested on November 3 and 4 respectively, were alleged to have collected N150, 000 from a customer of Ikeja Electric.
“The duo connived to collect money from the customer to provide and install stolen smart card meters which is supposed to be free.
“This was detected and they were arrested after the customer complained that the meters were not working well and unable to be recharged,” the NSCDC boss added, noting that “the suspects would be charged to court immediately the command finished investigation.
“This has been going on but we are determined to put a stop to the act,” Abafi said.
He also advised anyone still perpetrating such act to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
The Head, Communications and Strategy, Ikeja Electric, Pekun Adeyanju, said the firm was also working with the police and the NSCDC to detect and arrest consumers who also bypass meters.
According to him, “Our target is to ensure we install between 10, 000 to 12, 000 meters on a monthly basis and we are targeting 300, 000 installed meters between now and 2016 and our meters are free.”
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