On Monday, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took four people to court. Their names are Moses Timothy, Jeffrey Lawrence, Augustine Abila, and Caleb Kamiru. The court case happened at a Federal High Court in Enugu. The reason they were in court was because they were accused of breaking underground cables that give electricity to people in Enugu.
The NSCDC said these four people did this damage on July 1, 2024. Because of their actions, many people now have problems with their water and electricity.
The charge, labeled FHC/EN/CR/140/2024, included the following: “You, Moses Timothy, Joefrey Lawrence, Augustine Abila, Caleb Kamiru, and others that we have not caught yet, did something wrong on July 1, 2024. At Kingsway/Aria Road in Enugu, you all planned together to break underground cables without permission. This is against the law, and if you are found guilty, you can be punished.”
The second charge also says they broke the rules mentioned in the first charge and can be punished for it.
When asked if they did this, the four people said they were not guilty. The judge, Justice F.O Ogunbanjo, decided they should stay in a correctional facility for now. The case will continue on September 24th, 25th, and 26th.
After the court session, a lawyer for the NSCDC, Amaka Ekoh, talked to news reporters. She said that both the NSCDC and the Enugu State Government want to stop people from damaging things in the state. She said those who damage things will end up in jail.
She explained that when vandals break cables, it causes big problems. For example, people cannot get water easily, and streetlights do not work.
She said, “We are working hard with the Enugu State Government to catch these vandals. Many street lights do not work because of them. But now, we will find the vandals and take them to court. If they are found guilty, they will go to jail.”