EVENTS

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

Published

11 months ago

July 12, 2024

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.

EVENTS

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

Published

4 hours ago

June 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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.

EVENTS

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

Published

14 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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.

EVENTS

Nigerian Government Lists Woman ‘Declared Wanted By Police Since 2016’ As Witness To Testify Against Senator Natasha

Published

14 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A source also confirmed to Ekwutosblog on Friday that Duru listed as number four on the witness list was declared wanted, with a warrant of arrest issued against her in 2016.

A woman identified as Sandra Duru, more commonly known as Prof Mgbeke, who was declared wanted and fled Nigeria after a court issued a warrant of arrest against her in 2016, has been listed as a witness for the Nigerian government in the case against suspended Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, Duru, who is number four on the list of six witnesses is expected to testify against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Further documents showed she (Duru) was previously declared wanted over allegations of obtaining money under false pretence.

A Lagos State magistrate court had in 2017 issued a warrant of arrest for Duru following her failure to appear in court after being granted recognisance.

The warrant reads in part: “Warrant to arrest a person failing to appear pursuant to recognisance… Whereas Sandra Duru of 19A Community Road, off Allen, Ikeja, Lagos State is bound by recognisance to appear before the court on the 31st of July, 2017, but has failed to do so. You are hereby commanded to arrest the said Sandra Duru and bring her before me at Chief Magistrate Court 1, Tinubu.”

A source also confirmed to SaharaReporters on Friday that Duru listed as number four on the witness list was declared wanted, with a warrant of arrest issued against her in 2016.

The source added that she is now expected to testify as a witness, despite being a fugitive who fled the country when a case was filed against her at the time.

“The woman listed as number four on the witness list was declared wanted and fled the country. There’s an active warrant for her arrest. Yet now, she’s being called as a key witness in a case against someone else. It raises serious questions,” the source said.

The Nigeria Senate in March suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for allegedly violating the Senate Standing Rules.

The suspension followed her accusation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she alleged sexually harassed her.

In another court document dated January 12, 2016, obtained by SaharaReporters in a case between the Commissioner of Police and Mrs. Sandra Duru, the defendant was charged on three counts.

The case was filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in the Abuja Judicial Division, sitting in Abuja.

According to the document, Duru was alleged to have threatened to kill one Mrs. Edith Adefunke Edidot within seven days and also threatened to assassinate her character through a series of phone text messages.

The document further revealed that Duru fraudulently obtained the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) from Mrs. Edith Adefunke Edidot, knowing the claim to be false.

This act constitutes an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 312, Subsections (1)(a) and (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The court read, “That you Mrs. Duru Eluiobi Sandral ‘f sometimes in August, 2015 at about 1300hrs at Badore Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, in the Lagos Magisterial District did felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence and. thereby committed an offence punishable under section 311 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

“COUNT II: “That you Mrs. Duru Eluiobi Sandral ‘f’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did fraudulently obtained the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) from Mrs. Edith Adefunke Edidot ‘f knowing same to be false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 312 sub section (1)(a) and (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.

“COUNT III: That you Mrs. Duru Eluiobi Sandral ‘f’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did threatened to kill one Mrs. Edith Adefunke Edidot ‘f’ under seven days and also assassinate her character through series of phone text messages and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 230 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.”

SaharaReporters had reported days ago that the family of whistleblower and media activist, Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, raised the alarm over his continued detention and incommunicado status, three weeks after his arrest by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

The officers were allegedly acting on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Sources familiar with the Akuwudike’s case insist that the arrest is linked to Akuwudike’s statements during an interview, in which he claimed he was paid ₦2.5 million by Sandra Duru, popularly known as Prof Mgbeke, to create defamatory content targeting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He claimed that Duru was acting under the directive and financial sponsorship of Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“I received money for producing videos but grew concerned after noticing inconsistencies in Duru’s public statements,” Akuwudike had said during the interview, adding that he backed out of the assignment after realising it was a coordinated smear campaign filled with falsehood.

“After that livestream and other things, I began to uncover, I knew I had to come clean. Everything she said about Natasha was fabricated lies,” he added.

The Nigerian government has initiated legal proceedings against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation, following her claims that Senate President Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello conspired to assassinate her.

The case, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, names the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Natasha as the sole defendant.