Electricity Theft: FGN Drags Property Developer To Court

Due to his alleged involvement in electricity theft, Mr Cecil Ezem Osakwe, a property developer, has been docked by the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN.

He was arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako on a two-count charge bordering on the offence.

Osakwe pleaded not guilty to the charge and was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties, with a warning that under no circumstances should he miss his trial.

Justice Nyako equally issued a warning to revoke the bail granted if he fails to show up for his trial.

The property developer had through his lawyer, Mr Victor Giwa informed the judge that he had a motion for a stay of the arraignment of his client.

The counsel drew the court's attention to a pending suit challenging the legality of the panel that investigated his client and appealed to the court for stay proceedings.

But Justice Nyako overruled him and asked that the charge be read to the defendant.

The Judge adjourned the matter until May 2 for trial.

During the last hearing on the matter, Justice Nyako threatened to issue a bench warrant if Osakwe fails to appear in court for his arraignment. This is because on two occasions, the property developer had failed to appear in court for his arraignment, which prompted the judge to threaten him (Osakwe) with arrest should he fail to appear in court.

In the charge, Osakwe was said to have tampered with the electricity metre, which resulted in the loss of N11m revenue to the FGN.

The defendant was said to have been caught by the officials of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, for allegedly stealing electricity at various properties including his residence at 11, Aso drive, Abuja.

The scale of electricity theft by Osakwe at several other properties he manages is still under investigation, according to the officials of the power company.

Aside from the fresh charge of theft filed against him, Osakwe, the Managing Director of Abeh Signature Limited is also facing a criminal charge of N130m fraud before the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Osakwe failed to appear before Justice Idris Mohammed for his arraignment on the reason that he was not served with the charge sheet.

At the last adjourned date, Justice Idris returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the court. 

The police claimed that it was unable to serve him with the charges.

The case has, however, been assigned to Justice Mohammed Madugu of the FCT High Court.

According to the fresh charge signed by Mamman Baba Ali, an Assistant Director in charge of prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Osakwe was said to have interfered with the electricity supply which resulted in the loss of revenue to the FG, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(10) of the miscellaneous offences Act.

The charge dated August 2, 2022, as slammed against Osakwe, read: “That you, Osakwe Ezem Cecil, sometime in September 2021 at No 1, Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully interfered with the supply of electricity by converting same which led to the losses of revenue and that in Naira value about N11, 000,000.00 thereby committing an offence contrary to, and punishable under Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

*That you, Osakwe Ezem Cecil, at No 1, Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully interfered with electricity fittings, metres and appliances knowing, and that you are converting supplying of electricity illegally, you thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 1(10) of the miscellaneous Offences Act.”

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