EEDC Vandalism Conviction: Four Sentenced in Ebonyi for Destroying Electricity Assets
This report highlights an EEDC vandalism conviction in Ebonyi State, where four individuals received prison sentences for damaging electricity infrastructure. The judgement underscores ongoing efforts to curb vandalism and strengthen power distribution reliability.
Abakaliku, November 20, 2025
EEDC vandalism conviction has again taken center stage in Ebonyi State as the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) confirmed the sentencing of four individuals involved in the destruction and theft of its electrical assets.
The Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, disclosed on Thursday that one of the convicts, Chukwuma Onwe, was sentenced on 12 November 2025 by Hon. Justice John Igboji of the High Court of Ebonyi State, Ohaukwu Judicial Division, sitting in Ezzangbo. Onwe faced a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful disconnection and damage to transformer armoured cables, and stealing – offences contrary to the Ebonyi State Criminal Code, Cap 33, Laws of Ebonyi State 2009.
On the conspiracy charge, the court handed him a three-year sentence, while the vandalism and stealing counts earned him four years each, with all terms running concurrently. According to Ezeh, Onwe was arrested by the Police in September 2023 for vandalizing an EEDC transformer located at Ntsulakpa, Ezzangbo Community.
In another EEDC vandalism conviction, the same Court on 7 November 2025 sentenced Okefe Stanley, Aleke Kingsley, and Egba Friday to four years’ imprisonment each for vandalism, unlawful disconnection, damage, and removal of aluminum conductors belonging to EEDC. The trio received three years for conspiracy and four years each for vandalism and stealing, also running concurrently. They were apprehended on 5 June 2023 by the vigilante group of Oshituma Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The management of EEDC commended the judiciary for the rulings and urged accelerated hearing of other pending vandalism cases. “We are pleased with these judgements and hope they serve as a deterrent to those engaging in such criminal acts,” Ezeh said.
He recalled that four other vandals—Ikechukwu Esseh, Ikedinachi Uche, Ukpai Godwin, and Uchenna Kalu—were in August similarly sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by Hon. Justice Nicholas E. Nwode for attacking a 7.5MVA Injection Substation at Education Board Road, Afikpo, in Afikpo North LGA.
EEDC expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Police and the vigilante group of Ohaukwu community for their vigilance, noting that this aligns with the company’s advocacy for community collaboration in safeguarding critical electricity infrastructure. Ezeh lamented that vandalism continues to drain company resources that should have been deployed to improve service delivery.
He urged customers to remain vigilant and protect installations within their communities, warning that vandalism inevitably triggers service disruptions and prolonged inconvenience.
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