WARRI- Four persons, including the President of Ozoro community in Delta State, Mr. Raphael Oro Afemani (56) have been charged on a two count charge of stealing six electricity transformers valued at N 9,400,000, properties of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The others were the community Vice President, Hon. Williams Ubine (53) and the Secretary General, Mr. Johnson Uyeri (53).
Also charged with them in the suit No FHC/WR.11C/2015. is the buyer of the stolen transformers based in Onitsha, Anambra State, Chief Stephen Ibeneme (57) who allegedly bought the items stolen from Owhelogbo, Urude and Uruto.
The items are one 5000 KVA transformer valued at N1, 800,000, three 300 KVA transformers valued at N4,800,000 and two 200 KVA transformers valued at N2,800,000.
According to the officer in charged of the legal Department, Police Zone 5, Headquarters, Benin City, F.B. Ojiezele, the accused conspired among themselves to commit the offences on December 19, 2014.
He said the offences are punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38 and Section 9 of the miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17,Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 respectively.
The transformers were said to have been removed from where they were installed after the Niger Delta Development Commission replaced them.
However, the accused were said to have resisted efforts by the BEDC officials to removed the replaced transformers to areas where they were needed.
The accused were also said to have transported the alleged stolen transformers to the Onitsha based Ibeneme who had removed the coils before he was apprehended by the police.
No date has however been fixed for hearing on the case.