Special Court Jails 2 Over Energy Theft, Meter Tampering In Kogi

The Special Court, Magistrate Court 7, Lokoja, has convicted and sentenced two persons to prison terms for energy theft and meter tampering.

The judgments were delivered on Wednesday by Magistrate Josephine Oyiza Ajagu Abedo under the Kogi State Electricity Law, 2024.

In the first case, The State vs Umar Faruk (CMCL/C/23/2026), Faruk pleaded guilty to two counts of meter tampering and energy theft.

He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with an option of fine, on the first count and six months, with an option of fine, on the second.

He was also ordered to pay all outstanding electricity bills owed to the Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL).

In a separate case, The State vs Umar Abdulmumin (CMCL/C/22/2026), the defendant pleaded guilty to energy theft and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with an option of fine.

Abdulmumin was also ordered to settle all outstanding KEDL bills against his name.

The prosecutions were handled by O. Babatimehin, A.M. Idris-Aduku and M.U. Ibrahim for the state.

The convictions are seen as a major step by the Kogi State Government to curb energy theft, protect electricity infrastructure and improve revenue collection in the state’s emerging electricity market.

The Kogi State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) said it had established a Forum Office at its headquarters to resolve consumer complaints, including overbilling and other electricity-related disputes.

The court warned that offenders involved in energy theft, meter bypass or tampering would face the full weight of the law.