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Ex-EEDC staff arrested for bypassing, tampering with meters for customers

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A former staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, was arrested last week in Anambra State for bypassing and tampering with prepaid meters for customers.

The Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, in Enugu.

The suspect identified as Lawrence Okeke specializes in the replacement of original meter sensors with fake ones thereby bypassing the meters and making them not record the actual consumption by customers. This development has negatively impacted the revenue of the distribution company.

Ezeh said that following a report by a whistle-blower, the Meter Monitoring Team of the company was deployed to some locations for a routine meter monitoring inspection.

At one of the premises visited at Bida Road, Onitsha, they discovered that the meter was bypassed, and the original meter sensor was removed and replaced with the fake one.

While the team interrogated the customer who already admitted their findings, the customer gave out the identity and contact of the individual who performed the bypass as Lawrence Okeke, who happens to be an ex-staff of EEDC.

Immediately, Lawrence was tracked and arrested, and handed over to the Central Police Station, Onitsha, where he is currently assisting the Police in their investigation.

According to Ezeh, Lawrence Okeke who hails from Adogba Village in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, was disengaged from EEDC in December 2020 for gross misconduct.

“The apprehension of the suspect by the team is a great breakthrough in the organization’s fight against meter bypass and energy theft”, Ezeh said.

“It is believed that by the time the investigation is concluded, a lot of atrocities already perpetrated by the likes of Lawrence in our network, will be unraveled.”

Ezeh cautioned customers who engage in meter bypass to desist from such as the company has stepped up its prepaid meter monitoring activities and anyone caught will be made to face the music.

He also advised the customers against the activities of some ex-staff of EEDC who still parade as though they are still working for the company, while they are busy extorting unsuspecting customers and carrying out criminal and illegal activities that undermine the organization’s efforts in providing quality services to its esteemed customers.

“Customers should always be mindful of who they are engaging as staff of EEDC and be sure of their identity, as a lot of people out there carrying out illegalities, parading as staff of EEDC are not in its employ,” Ezeh warned.

While commending the whistle-blower for giving the information that led to the arrest of Lawrence, Ezeh further urged customers to feel free to report any suspected case of meter bypass and energy theft.

 

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Tragedy as groom, friends die in car crash moments before wedding

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A day meant for celebration turned tragic in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State as a groom and two of his friends lost their lives in a fatal accident just moments before his wedding ceremony.

The incident occurred on Saturday.

The deceased, SP Mustapha Garba Gumau, a senior police officer, was reportedly enroute from Gumau to Magaman-Gumau for his wedding fatiha scheduled for 10:00 am when the accident occurred around 9:00 am at Bargan Tsamiya village.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle carrying the groom and his friends veered off the road and crashed, killing him and two others — Shuaibu Umar and Sulaiman Musa — on the spot.

Several other occupants of the vehicle were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Ekwutosblog reports that the sudden loss has thrown the communities of Gumau and Magaman-Gumau into mourning, as what should have been a joyful union turned into a sorrowful occasion.

 

When contacted, the spokesman of the Bauchi Police Command , Mohammed Wakil, could not be reached as his line was unreachable.

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Court of Appeal clears ex-NIMASA DG, Akpobolokemi of N754.8m fraud case

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The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has discharged and acquitted former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, of alleged fraud involving N754.8 million.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, the appellate court upheld Akpobolokemi’s appeal and overturned the ruling of the Ikeja High Court, which had earlier dismissed his no-case submission.

The court quashed the 12-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The EFCC had initially accused Akpobolokemi of conspiracy, stealing, and forgery in connection with purported illegal transfers from the account of the VIMSAS Committee.

While he was initially arraigned alongside several others, the charges were later amended to focus solely on him and one co-defendant.

Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the trial court had previously held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against the defendants and directed them to open their defence.

Akpobolokemi, through his counsel, Ogbonna and Kunle Gbolahan, challenged the ruling, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish any direct link between him and the alleged offences.

The appeal pointed to the reliance on inadmissible evidence and uncorroborated testimonies of prosecution witnesses, including PW9, PW10, and PW11, as well as Exhibits P59 to P61.

The appellate court found merit in the appeal, holding that Akpobolokemi was neither a member of the VIMSAS Committee nor a signatory to any of its accounts.

It also held that he did not authorize or sign any withdrawal instructions or internal memoranda related to the transactions in question.

The court emphasized that trial courts are bound to act only on legally admissible evidence and noted that the evidence relied upon in this case should have been excluded, regardless of whether objections were raised during trial.

By striking out the charges and entering an acquittal, the Court of Appeal brought the protracted legal proceedings against Akpobolokemi to a close.

During the trial, Akpobolokemi’s defence consistently argued that the EFCC had not substantiated its case, while the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the testimonies of 12 witnesses supported the charges.

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Nigerian Army Redeploys 466 Soldiers To Osogbo Depot In Major Shake-Up

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According to the posting letter, formation and unit commanders were directed to implement the redeployment as instructed, using the promulgation as their official authority.

In a major personnel shake-up, the Nigerian Army has approved the redeployment and appointment of 466 soldiers to the Nigerian Army Depot in Osogbo, Osun State.

According to an exclusive posting letter obtained by Ekwutosblog  on Friday, the directive—dated June 5, 2025—was signed by Major General Y. Yahaya, the Army’s Chief of Personnel Management. The affected personnel are expected to resume at their new postings by June 12, 2025.

“The posting and appointment of the above-named MWO (Master Warrant Officer) and 466 others as contained in Annex A is hereby authorised with effect from 12 June 25,” the letter partly read.

 

According to the posting letter, formation and unit commanders were directed to implement the redeployment as instructed, using the promulgation as their official authority.

 

However, they were also advised to notify the Depot NA Oshogbo and the Department of Personnel Management if any affected soldier was unavailable due to ongoing courses or hospitalisation.

 

“Where a soldier affected by the posting is unavailable to be released due to course or hospitalisation, his commander is to communicate same to Depot NA Oshogbo and this Department indicating the date the soldier is expected back to unit as applicable,” the letter said.

 

Similar troop rotations have occurred in the past, such as the relocation of some units from Yaba to Epe to pave the way for a railway project.

 

The affected units included the 81 Division Base Ordinance Depot, printing press, and tailoring factory.

 

In 2019, the Army announced it had acquired over 440 hectares of land in Epe, where the new barracks would house units such as the 81 Division Base Depot and the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration.

The letter, issued from the Department of Personnel Management at Army Headquarters.

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