Lagos electricity official, others arrested over theft of 7 transformers

      

An official of the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency, NEMSA, Lagos state has been arrested in connection with the theft of no fewer than seven transformers.The transformers belonging to the agency ranged from 300 to 500 KVAs and were kept in the workshop in the Ijora area of the state for auction before they were stolen on April 3 and April 7, 2016.
The theft was subsequently reported at the Iponri Police Division, leading to the arrest of the official of the agency, the Punch gathered.

Upon his arrest on Wednesday, the police had recovered some of the transformers, which had been sold; while efforts were on to recover the others.
The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Damasus Ozoani, who confirmed the theft, said the police had charged the official to court.
Ozoani said, “The case was reported by an official to the police. The transformers had developed faults and were taken for repairs when they were allegedly stolen by someone in the workshop.

“The police have recovered pieces of the transformers, but not all. Meanwhile, the official and other suspects arrested have been charged to court,” he added.

Meanwhile, a source in NEMSA, who did not want his name in print, alleged that security officials in the workshop were behind the theft.
He said, “An official of NEMSA also connived with the security company guarding the workshop to steal the seven transformers. One of the culprits lives in one of the official quarters and operates from there.
“An official of an electricity distribution company was also arrested. Five persons were arrested in all, while others are at large. The police are on their trail.”