General
Ikeja DisCo Condemns Rising Energy Theft Amid Tariff Increase
The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja DisCo) has expressed serious concerns over the surge in energy theft following the Band A tariff increase implemented three months ago. The company warned that offenders caught stealing electricity will face immediate prosecution, moving away from merely imposing penalties for revenue loss.
This announcement was made during the company’s July Stakeholders Forum. In a statement released on Saturday, Ikeja Electric’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kingsley Okotie, highlighted the alarming rise in energy theft, particularly after the tariff review on Band A feeders. He emphasized the critical impact of this theft on the entire electricity value chain.
“The theft is massive, and the company cannot guarantee meeting customer expectations if this ugly trend continues. Ironically, some perpetrators believe that if they haven’t been caught, there are no consequences. This is false, and we must change the narrative,” Okotie stated.
Okotie stressed the importance of a united front against energy theft for the survival and stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. He pointed out that whatever affects power distribution companies has a ripple effect on the entire industry.
To combat this issue, Ikeja DisCo has implemented a whistleblowing platform, allowing customers to report incidents of theft anonymously. This platform is managed independently to ensure the confidentiality of whistleblowers.
“To reinforce the company’s commitment, IE is incentivising whistleblowing by rewarding those who report any illegality and theft of electricity. Persons who submit verified reports on Non-Maximum Demand (Residential & SMEs) offenders will get up to 10 percent of the reconnection fee paid by the offender, while for Maximum Demand (commercial & industrial) offenders, whistle-blowers will get up to 5 percent of the reconnection fees paid by the offender,” Okotie explained.
He further noted that energy theft is a criminal offense under the Electricity Act, attracting sentences of six months to three years imprisonment. Interfering with meters or the works of licensees carries a sentence of three years imprisonment. Ikeja Electric has the legal authority to prosecute individuals and companies for such offenses.
According to regulations by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), unauthorized access, meter tampering, and bypassing meters allow DisCos to disconnect customers. Reconnection is only possible after offenders pay for the loss of revenue, back-bills established by the DisCo, reconnection costs, and administrative charges.
General
Bodycam Footage Reveals Final Moments Before Arrested Man Became Unresponsive
Bodycam footage played during proceedings has revealed the interaction between police officers and a man identified as Henry Nowak in the moments before he became unresponsive while being detained.
In the video, an officer is heard asking Nowak where he had allegedly been stabbed. The officer then adds: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
As officers move to place him in handcuffs, Nowak repeatedly tells them, “I can’t breathe,” making the statement three more times during the arrest.
One officer is then heard saying: “He says he’s been stabbed, so let’s just check him.” The footage appears to show the officer briefly lifting Nowak’s shirt near his waistline before he is left lying on his side.
A female officer subsequently asks: “Where do you think he’s been stabbed? In the face?”
Another officer responds: “He hasn’t been stabbed.”
Shortly afterwards, Nowak, who appears to be unresponsive in the footage, is informed that he is under arrest on suspicion of assault.
The footage forms part of the evidence being examined as investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
General
Stephen Fry Seeks Damages After Serious Fall at London Tech Conference
Stephen Fry has launched legal action against the organisers of a technology conference after suffering serious injuries when he fell off a stage following a keynote speech in London.
The broadcaster, actor and author is seeking up to £100,000 in damages after the accident at the CogX Festival, which took place at The O2 Arena in September 2023.
Sir Stephen, 68, said he sustained multiple injuries in the fall, including fractures to his leg, hip, pelvis and several ribs. He had been speaking at the event after being invited to deliver a keynote address focused on artificial intelligence.
Describing the incident at the time, he said: “So I broke my right leg in a couple of places and my hip and pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs.”
He added that he felt fortunate the injuries were not even more severe, saying he had “praised my lucky stars” that he did not damage his spine or suffer a skull injury.
According to court documents filed on his behalf, Fry is bringing a personal injury claim against CogX Festival Ltd and Blonstein Events Ltd.
The filing states that after finishing his presentation and while leaving the stage through the backstage area, he fell approximately two metres from the stage onto the concrete floor below.
“The Claimant brings a claim for damages for personal injuries sustained on 14 September 2023 at the O2 Arena, London, whilst attending the CogX Festival where he had been engaged to deliver a talk on Artificial Intelligence,” the court documents state.
The legal action is focused on the circumstances surrounding the fall and whether sufficient safety measures were in place backstage at the venue.
Neither CogX Festival Ltd nor Blonstein Events Ltd has publicly responded to the claim so far.
General
Israeli Soldiers Punished Over Vandalism of Jesus Statue in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has disciplined soldiers involved in the vandalism of a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, following widespread condemnation of the incident.
According to the IDF, the soldier who struck the statue with a sledgehammer, along with another who photographed the act, will each serve 30 days of military detention and be removed from combat duties. The military added that six additional soldiers present at the scene, who failed to intervene or report the incident, will face separate disciplinary action.
The incident occurred in the village of Debel, where an image of the damaged statue circulated widely online, sparking outrage both locally and internationally.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “stunned and saddened” by the act, as criticism mounted over the conduct of the troops.
In a statement, the IDF said its internal inquiry found the soldiers’ actions “completely deviated from IDF orders and values” and expressed “deep regret” over what happened. It added that the damaged statue had since been replaced in coordination with the local community.
The military emphasised that its operations in Lebanon are directed solely against militant groups, including Hezbollah, and not against civilians or religious sites.
Local leaders strongly condemned the act. Father Fadi Flaifel, head of the village’s congregation, described it as a desecration of a sacred symbol, saying it violated principles of respect and human rights.
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