Man jailed 8 years over transformer coil theft in Yobe

The Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe State, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Nasiru Lawan, to eight years in a correctional facility for stealing transformer coil wire weighing approximately 37kg and valued at about N1 million at the Government Girls Unity College, Damaturu.

Lawan was charged on October 11, 2024, by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, prosecution counsel, Barrister Jidda Abdulqadir, on two counts of tampering, removal and, theft of transformer coil wire filed in case No: FHC/DM/CR/40/2024.

The prosecution presented convincing evidence and witnesses from the intelligence and investigation department of the NSCDC, leading to Lawan’s conviction.

Lawan and an accomplice, who remains at large, vandalized the school’s electricity transformer on September 8, 2024. He was arrested the following day while attempting to sell the stolen copper coil wire.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Fadima Murtala-Aminu condemned the activities of vandals in the state, describing them as economic and social welfare saboteurs.

She urged security agencies to strengthen their collaboration to combat the nefarious activities of vandals and other criminal elements in the state.

Man jailed 8 years over transformer coil theft in Yobe