The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Emmanuel Elvis before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on two-count charge bordering on alleged economic sabotage and electricity theft.
Elvis, who works as linesman with Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, (PHED), Onne Feeder Gamma Zone, got into trouble when he was caught carrying out illegal electricity connections in a building.
One of the charges read, “That you Emmanuel Elvis and Emma (at large), on or about the 21st day of March 2020 at Sani Abacha Road GRA, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully tamper with electric fittings and appliances used for supplying and selling electricity and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges upon which prosecution counsel, K.W. Chukwuma-Eneh applied for a trial date and prayed the court to remand him in a correctional centre, while defence counsel, E.K. Onuokwu informed the court of a pending application for bail of the defendant.
Justice Mohammed granted Elvis bail in the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties he said, must be the defendant’s blood relation of which one should be a civil servant of not below Grade Level 13 and must swear to an affidavit of means.
He ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to February 4, 2021 for trial.