In a shocking revelation, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC, disclosed that it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, IBEDC is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.
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While identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.
The statement said: “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.
“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”
Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offence, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment.
“In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution,” Tinuoye revealed.
The Company however enjoined customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.
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