Court sentences man to five years for vandalizing transformer in Ebonyi

A High Court in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, presided over by Justice Nicholas Nwode, sentenced Ikechukwu Osondu to five years in prison for vandalising property owned by Eastland Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL).

The ruling was announced in Abakaliki on Wednesday by EEDL’s Head of Communications, Mrs Patience Ezeagu.

Osondu was convicted on 6 May 2026 under the Ebonyi State Miscellaneous Offences Law of 2018 and was sentenced without a fine.

Ezeagu said the arrest was based on credible intelligence and the joint efforts of community vigilante groups and security agencies, and that the company’s legal team worked diligently to bring the case to a successful conclusion.

“This conviction sends a strong warning to anyone who vandalises electricity installations, because such infrastructure is a critical national asset that serves communities and supports economic activity. Destroying these facilities directly harms customers and hampers development,” the statement read.

The spokesperson recalled that earlier this year, EEDL warned of a growing wave of substation vandalism across Ebonyi State, which caused power outages and significant financial losses.

According to her, EEDL entered Ebonyi State to promote development through improved electricity supply, support businesses, and enhance residents’ quality of life. However, she cautioned that these goals may not be fully achieved if vandalism continues.

“We remain committed to improving power supply and expanding our network, but ongoing vandalism undermines these efforts. We will therefore continue to collaborate with security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders to ensure offenders are arrested and prosecuted,” Ezeagu added.

The company urged community leaders, youth groups, neighbourhood watch organisations and residents to take responsibility for the electricity installations in their areas by staying vigilant and promptly reporting suspicious activity around transformers and other power facilities.

EEDL reassured customers that it is determined to provide better services and that anyone found vandalising power facilities will face the full force of the law.