The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) said it has arrested its ex-staff for alleged meters by-pass and tampering for its customers in Onitsha, Anambra. The Head of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement in Enugu on Thursday that the suspect was arrested on July 4.
Ezeh said that the suspect identified as Lawrence Okeke specialised in the replacement of original meter sensors with fake ones thereby by-passing the meters and making them not to record the actual consumption by customers. This development has negatively impacted on the revenue of the distribution company, according to him.
Ezeh noted that 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 at Bida Road, Onitsha in Anambra State, they discovered that the meter was by-passed, 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 by-pass 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,” he said.
The EEDC spokesman revealed that Okeke, who hails from Adogba Village in Awgu Local Government Area in 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 by-pass 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 Okeke in our network will be unraveled.”
Ezeh cautioned customers, who engage in meter by-pass, to desist from such as the company had stepped up its prepaid meter monitoring activities and anyone caught would 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. The EEDC spokesman noted that these unscrupulous ex-staff are busy extorting unsuspecting customers; carrying out criminal and illegal activities that undermine the organisation’s efforts in providing quality services to its esteemed customers.
He said: “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. We commend the whistle blower for giving the information that led to the arrest of Lawrence Okeke.
“Customers should feel free to report any suspected case of meter by-pass 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.”
