Lagos trader lands in court for bypassing electricity meter

April 9, 2016

A fifty-eight-year-old trader, Ejide Ogunmiluyi, is currently facing prosecution before an Ijede Magistrate’s Court, Ikorodu, Lagos, over allegations of bypassing electricity meter in her house to avoid paying electricity bills to Ikeja Electric.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, told the court that Ogunmiluyi, was found to have bypassed a meter in her house at Millenium Estate, in order to cheat Ikeja Electric out of necessary bill payment, contrary to Section 409 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos, 2011.

“That you, on the same day (March 31) did cheat IE with the meter bypass, as a result, cost the company revenue loss of amount yet to be determined, contrary to Section 321 Criminal Code Laws of Lagos 2011,” the prosecutor added.

The prosecution, however craved the indulgence of the court to amend the charge in order to include the actual amount the loss of revenue Ogunmiluyi’s alleged action caused Ikeja Electric.

Ogunmiluyi’s lawyer, Mr. Olakunle Ilesanmi, pleaded with the court to grant her bail on liberal terms assuring that the defence would prove she has no case to answer when the case commences proper.

Ogunmiluyi was later admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned till May 5, 2016.

The spokesperson for Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue, said the case was an attestation to the fact that the company would no longer take the issue of electricity theft lightly.

He said, “Electricity theft is one of the main issues that are worsening distribution. People should be on the lookout for people stealing power in their domain because such actions are short-changing them. It is in the interest of customers to report others stealing electricity in their neighbourhood.

“Our technicians are also well trained. They know what to look out for and whoever is found bypassing meter would be arrested and charged to court. We also have the technology to monitor meters that are being bypassed.”