Alleged Electricity Theft: Trial of Property Developer Continues at the Federal High Court, Abuja

The trial of alleged electricity theft, filed by the Federal Government against Abuja property developer Cecil Osakwe, continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

During the resumed trial, the prosecutor, Mr. Alibaba Mamman, called two witnesses who adopted their witness statements and identified exhibits alleged to be tampered electricity meters.

The defense counsel, Mr. Victor Giwa, raised objections to the tendering of the exhibits, stating that the prosecutor had not attached such documents to the witness statement of one of the witnesses from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (AEDC).

The prosecutor affirmed that all witness statements and exhibits had been served on the Defense and the court.

Following arguments, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, adjourned until July 13 for the continuation of the trial.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government arraigned Abuja Property Developer Cecil Ezem Osakwe in March 2023, before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, over electricity theft.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge before the court.

In the charge, Osakwe was said to have tampered with electricity meters, resulting in the loss of N11 million in revenue to the federal government.

Osakwe was allegedly caught by officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, stealing electricity at various properties, including his residence at 11 Aso Drive, Abuja.

According to officials of the power company, the scale of electricity theft by Osakwe at a number of other properties he manages is still under investigation.

The two-count charge dated August 2, 2022, read:

1. 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 loss of revenue in the amount of about N11,000,000.00, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
2. 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, meters, and appliances, knowing and converting the supply of electricity illegally, thereby committing an offence contrary and punishable under Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.