NEWS
Disconnection: Enugu Govt. Reacts to N1.3bn Accumulated EEDC Bill

The Enugu State Government has reacted to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC’s billing and disconnection of some of its offices, over accumulated bill of N1.3 billion.
The government described the action of EEDC as unlawful, malicious, callous, and vexatious.
Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government in a letter to the EEDC Managing Director, Praveen Chorghade on Tuesday in Enugu, faulted the company’s claim of government’s indebtedness to the company to the tune of N1.
3 billion.He said the disconnection of government offices, parastatals like College of Medicine Enugu State University Teaching hospital, Housing development Corporation, State Secretariat amongst others were unlawful and callous.
He explained that besides prompt payment of all electricity bills received from the EEDC since May 2023, the Gov. Peter Mbah administration had cleared two months backlog of debts in line with the governor’s commitment to offset all legitimate electricity debts inherited from his predecessors.
Onyia said both the publication of notice of disconnections and the actual disconnections on June 8 were based on wrong premises and total disregard to Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), rules and standing Order on estimated billing of maximum demand customers.
Onyia noted that no disconnection would carried out on any customer that was not metered and billed on estimation.
According to him outstanding electricity bills are estimated billing of maximum demand on agencies and parastatals of the state government carried over from the last administration.
He said the current administration had diligently and promptly paid all bills received from May 2023 to date.
This, he said, included two months from the carried over bill which it had shown commitment in good faith to settle.
He said the action inflicted malicious damages to the image and integrity of the state government, describing the act as vexatious and completely unacceptable.
Onyia reminded the company that the state government carried out electricity infrastructure intervention projects investment, totaling N2,9 billion from which EEDC collected revenue.
“The government demands payments for the investment costs and other debts owed by EEDC to the government.
“We also demand immediate retraction of the malicious publication and immediate reconnection of all disconnected government agencies as the basis for a truce,” Onyia said. (NAN)
JUDICIARY
Teenager Gets 10 Strokes Of Cane For Stealing Electric Cables

A Kaduna Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday ordered that a teenager, be given 10 strokes of the cane for breaking into a house and stealing electrical cables worth N450, 000.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, gave the sentence following a guilty plea by the 18-year-old now convict who resides at Kinkinau Kaduna.
Emmanuel said that the light punishment was because the convict saved the court from a prolonged trial, adding that he hoped that it would serve as a deterrent to others.
He also ordered that the recovered electrical cables be returned to the complainant, Sadiq Yusuf.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 17 at Ungwan sarki Kaduna.
He said the convict and one Mohammed Sani, now attack large, broke into the complainant’s house and stole the electrical cables worth N450, 000.
Leo said the convict was arrested when a neighbour to the complainant saw him coming out of the house with the stolen items.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)
CRIME
Woman In Court For Allegedly Stabbing Boyfriend With Knife

A 23-year-old woman, Abigail Victor, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with a knife.
Victor, a resident of Ungwan Sunday, Kaduna, was facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and causing injury.
The Prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 17 at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.
Leo said the defendant conspired with two others at large to beat her boyfriend, Dominic James, and also stab him with a knife in his shoulder.
He said the defendant, who had a misunderstanding with the complainant, accused him of cheating on her.
“In the process, she called two of her friends who came to the complainant’s house, beat him up and stabbed him.
“It took the intervention of neighbours who came to the aid of the complainant and rushed him to a hospital.
“The offences contravene Sections 58 and 284 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
“Section 58 attracts a one-year prison term if found guilty, while Section 284 attracts a prison term of not less than five years if found guilty,” he said.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum.
He said the surety must be a blood relation to the defendant and must present a three year tax clearance to the Kaduna State Government.
Emmanuel adjourned the case until June 17 for hearing. (NAN)
Metro
First Lady Urges Nigerians to Embrace Cultural Diversity, Promote Unity

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to embrace their cultural diversity and promote unity and respect within the diverse nation.
The first lady made the call in her message on Wednesday in commemoration of the 2025 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
“The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, highlights the profound strength that lies our differences and the shared humanity that connects us all.
”There is indeed strength and unity in diversity.
“Nigeria for example is blessed with over 250 ethnic groups, each speaking a different language, but it is through our dialogue, our interactions, and our mutual respect that we find true identity and unity.
“On this day, I encourage every Nigerian to celebrate our cultural richness, to listen with empathy, and to lead with understanding.
“Let us embrace this journey together and shape a brighter future for Nigeria and the world,” Mrs Tinubu said.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is celebrated every year on May 21, to raise awareness on the role of Culture in sustainable socio-economic growth and development. (NAN)