The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Friday said that a magistrate court setting in Ebutte Metta in Lagos has ordered a hotel owner to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison for bypassing a meter pending bail condition perfection.
The General Manager, Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said in Lagos Mr Ugochukwu Okenwa, owns Pipeview hotel at Ishashi area under Ojo business unit of EKEDC was arraigned on Sept. 6, 2018 for illegal bypassing of meter.
Idemudia said Okenwa pleaded not guilty to a 4-counts charge of conspiracy to commit felony, unlawful tamper or interference in electricity installations, misdemeanor, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
He said hotel was situated at 6, Ugo Okenwa Str, Unity Estate; Ishashi was caught bypassing their meter on Nov. 28, 2017, Jan. 1, 2018 and Aug. 13, 2018 respectively.
He said when the management of the hotel was billed N13, 508,675.43 being the penalty for the offence committed, but failed to meet up with the payment.
Idemudia explained that Okenwa was arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID) Panti on Sept. 5, 2018 after failed to honour several police invitations, before he was charged to court the following day.
The Magistrate who presided over the case, A.O Adedayo, ordered that the accused be remanded in Ikoyi prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions which include the sum of 500,000 naira only.
Idemudia lamented that the company was losing a great deal of proceeds due to energy theft and stated that he hopes that this incident will serve as a deterrent to others who indulge in such heinous acts.
He also urged customers to assist the company in identifying those that partake in such unlawful activities by making use of the company’s various whistle blowing platforms.
“These platforms can also be used to report cases of foul play or extortion by unscrupulous elements within the company as it is a safe, secure and confidential means of alerting the company of these unethical activities,” the statement said.
