EEDC ex-staff arrested for tampering meters for customers
An ex-staff of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has been arrested for bypassing and tampering prepaid meters for EEDC customers.
The suspect identified as Lawrence Okeke, was arrested last week in Onitsha, Anambra State, following a report by a whistle blower.
According to a statement from EEDC, 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, a development which is said to negatively impacted on the revenue of the distribution company.
“Following a report by a whistle blower, 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, 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.
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