EKEDC NABS HOTEL ENGAGING IN ENERGY THEFT

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Officials of Eko Electricity Distribution Company on Monday caught an hotel in Surulere area of Lagos engaging in meter bypass. The General Manager Corporate Communications of the Company, Mr Godwin Idemudia disclosed this in a statement made available journalists on in Lagos.

Idemudia, while speaking on the on-going campaign by the company against meter bypass and energy theft, said the owner of the Samwolly Guest House, located at 13, Idita street, tried to prevent officials of EKEDC on routine inspection duty from entering the hotel when they first went to there.

Idemudia said the prevention of the officials triggered suspicion that something unwholesome might be happening in the hotel and that led to the decision to make another surprise visit to the place. According to him, it was during the second visit that the officials established that the three meters in the hotel have been bypassed.

Idemudia decried a situation where corporate bodies and business concerns who were supposed to be role models in global best practice and ethical conduct could throw integrity to the wind to engage in criminal acts like meter bypass and energy theft.

Speaking further, he said after been caught in the act, the hotel owner had resorted to all sorts of blackmail and subversive acts to incite the public against the company.

The Eko Disco spokesman said that it was the complaint from the hotel against estimated billing that led to installation of three pre-paid meters in the hotel.He also said that it was unfortunate that a customer that EKEDC gave prompt response to his complaint could now turn around to short-change the company through meter by-pass.

Idemudia noted that the company would not succumb to intimidation or blackmail to ensure that perpetrators of energy theft and meter bypass were adequately brought to book in accordance with the laws of the land.