The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Tuesday vowed to jail anybody caught engaging in energy theft, vandalism, or illegal metering.

The managing director of IBEDC, Kinsley Achife, gave the warning at a stakeholder engagement meeting held in Ijebu Ode on Tuesday.

Mr Achife explained that the action became necessary following incessant cases of energy theft, vandalism, and illegal metre usage in the state.

The managing director, represented by the lead media officer of IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, said energy theft remained a crime and was punishable under the law.

“The new Electricity Act signed by President Bola Tinubu recommended punishment for energy theft and assault of its officials,” he said.

Mr Achife added that the Electricity Act stated that whoever was caught using illegal power or assaulting IBEDC staff was liable to face the wrath of the law.

He lamented that energy theft, vandalism, and illicit metres had grown the customer’s debts to IBEDC in Ogun to over N67 billion.

He appealed to customers to desist from tampering with metres and vandalisation of electric installations, saying the offence attracted 21 years of imprisonment.

“We want to appeal to the people of Ijebu on energy theft; we are losing billions of naira to energy theft,” he said.

He advised customers interested in acquiring metres to follow the right channel stipulated by IBEDC, warning that any metre bought outside the recognised company could cause damages.

Mr Achife appealed to the customers to stop beating and maiming the IBEDC staff, saying they could always report such staff for appropriate disciplinary measures.

(NAN)