Abuja Property Developer’s Electricity Theft Case Adjourned

The trial of Mr Cecil Osakwe, an Abuja Property Developer, for alleged electricity theft has been adjourned until April 15. The case was filed by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Binta Nyako. However, the court didn’t sit on the scheduled date, and the hearing is now set to continue on April 15.

In the charge filed against him, Mr Cecil Osakwe is accused of tampering with electricity meters, resulting in a loss of N11 million revenue for the government. This action is considered an offense under Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) officials caught him allegedly stealing electricity at various properties, including his own residence.

During the proceedings, Mr Cecil Osakwe raised concerns about the legitimacy of the task force that conducted the investigation leading to his arraignment. He contested that the task force was not recognized by the law. He brought to the court’s attention a pending lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the panel that carried out the investigation.

The defense and prosecution counsels agreed to adjourn the proceedings to April 15. This will provide further time for the court to assess the legality of the task force and hear arguments from both parties involved in the case.

The Federal Government’s case against Mr Cecil Osakwe highlights the efforts to combat electricity theft and hold offenders accountable. The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for ensuring the integrity of the electricity distribution system in Abuja.