Tenant lands in trouble for illegal electricity consumption
By Chinyere Omeire
A 28-year-old tenant, Toheeb Sodiq, was on Thursday in Lagos granted a N5 million bail in a case of illegal consumption of electricity worth N1.5 million.
An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, which granted Sodiq bail, also ordered him to provide two sureties as part of the bail conditions.
The Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Botoku, said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Botoku adjourned the case until Jan. 10, 2019.
Sodiq, who resides at Block 2, Fortune Green Flat 4, Milverton Estate, Lekki, Lagos, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Chinedu Njoku, told the court that the accused committed the offences in August in his apartment.
He said that the accused fraudulently connected electricity to his flat.
“When the estate authorities found out, they asked him to pay accumulated amount of N1.5 millon.
“He issued a GTBank cheque of N1.5 million on the pretext of discharging the bills but the cheque was dishonoured due to insufficient funds,” Njoku said.
He also said that the accused assaulted one of the estate’s residents, Mr Monday Onate, by slapping him.
He submitted that the offences contravene Sections 172, 295 (1), 315 (b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case has been adjourned until Jan. 30, 2019
