By Chuks Eke
The police in Onitsha, Anambra state have apprehended an ex-staff of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc, EEDC, Lawrence Okeke for alleged bypassing and tampering with prepaid meters for EEDC customers in the commercial city of Onitsha.
The Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh who disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday,, explained that the suspect was apprehended by EEDC’s Meter Monitoring Unit at Bida Road, Onitdha and handed over to men of the Central Police Division, CPS, Onitdha.
Ezeh further explained that the suspect specialized in the replacements of original meter censors with fake ones, thereby bypassing the meters and making them not record the actual consumption by customers.
Ezeh who lamented that this development has negatively impacted on the revenue of the distribution company, noted that the suspect was apprehended following a report by a whistleblower which compelled the Meter Monitoring Team of the company to deploy some staff to some locations on a routine meter monitoring inspection.
The statement read in part, “The suspect specialises 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 on the revenue of the distribution company.
“Following a report by a whistleblower, the Meter Monitoring Team of the company was deployed to some locations on a routine meter monitoring inspection. At one of the customer’s premises visited at Bida Road, Onitsha, they discovered that the meter was bypassed, and the original meter sensor 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 that performed the bypass as Lawrence Okeke, who happens to be an ex-staff of EEDC.
“Immediately, Okeke 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, the suspect, who hails from Adogba Village in Awgu Local Government Area of 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 organisation’s fight against meter bypass and energy theft.
“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 said.
He further 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 the network 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,” he warned.
While commending the whistleblower 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 through the company’s whistle blowing platforms (08146026678 or ethics@enugudisco.com) or other channels, assuring that their identities will be protected.
When contacted, the Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on phone yesterday, adding that the suspect is in the custody of the police as investigation is ongoing.
