Three employees of ATC Nigeria Base Station, Ogijo—50-year-old Sikiru Oyedokun, 46-year-old Oladimeji Monsuru, and 33-year-old Abraham Ebenezer…
Three employees of ATC Nigeria Base Station, Ogijo—50-year-old Sikiru Oyedokun, 46-year-old Oladimeji Monsuru, and 33-year-old Abraham Ebenezer—were arraigned before the Ogun State Magistrate Court in Sagamu on Tuesday. They are accused of the fraudulent appropriation of 165,033.18 kilowatts of electricity, valued at ₦22,887,474.28, belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The alleged offence occurred between September 17, 2019, and May 5, 2022, as well as from August 3, 2023, to December 5, 2024, at the ATC Nigeria Base Station site in Ogijo, located in the Sagamu Magisterial District.
The suspects face two charges: fraudulent appropriation of electricity, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006, and unlawful diversion of electrical power, contrary to Section 400 of the same code.
The charge sheet reads:
“That you, Sikiru Oyedokun ‘M’, Oladimeji Monsuru ‘M’, Abraham Ebenezer ‘M’ and others at large between September 17, 2019, to May 5, 2022, and August 3, 2023, to December 5, 2024, at Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station in Ogijo, Ogun State, did unlawfully conspire to commit an offence of fraudulent appropriation of electricity (power), thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
“That you… did wilfully and unlawfully divert electricity power to Site ID: No. OG0061, ATC Nigeria Base Station… to the quantum of 165,033.18 kilowatt-hours valued at ₦22,887,474.28, property of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 400 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the accused urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the suspects were merely employees of the company and not the owners of the base station where the alleged theft occurred.
Magistrate Olayinka Idowu granted each defendant bail set at ₦7 million, with one surety each. The sureties must reside within the state, own landed properties in the magisterial district, and provide proof of tax payment to the Ogun State government.
The case has been adjourned for trial on January 9 and 10, 2025.