PHED Battles Oxygen Holiday Resort Over Alleged Energy Theft
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc, PHED, has alleged that Oxygen Holiday Resort Limited, a Port Harcourt based hospitality company has been fraudulently consuming its services by not connecting its power source through the rightful channel.
According to the Electricity distribution company the Energy allegedly perpetrated by Oxygen Holiday Resort located at Akpajo by Eleme road, Junction, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria runs into millions of naira.
The Hotel said to be owned by Mr. Lucius E. Nwosu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, had bypassed its prepaid meter to connect directly to the power source, thereby consuming energy at zero cost; defrauding the electricity distribution firm in the process.
According to a source, this economic crime came to the fore during a routine cash drive exercise to the vicinity of the resort by officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc in October 2020.
In the course of the visit à mind bugging discovery to the effect that the energy theft was colossal having been perpetrated for a period of almost 30 months cumulatively by means of a prepaid meter bypass, direct connection and negative cost.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the Resort’s prepaid meter in question was also registered in the name of Lucius Nwosu, SAN.
“Sometime in October 2020, officials of the company went on a routine cash drive exercise to the vicinity of the resort. In the course of the exercise, they visited the resort where they discovered a brazen and unimaginable energy theft case. The energy theft was by means of a prepaid meter bypass, direct connection and negative consumption. For its energy consumption and accountability, the resort is supposed to use the prepaid meters in its premises through the purchase of units when it vends (i.e. recharges). But this was not the case with the resort.
“ In the course of investigation, the officials of the company discovered that for account no: 883139434401: L. E. Nwosu the last time Lucius E. Nwosu, SAN vended the prepaid meter was at 11:54AM on the 12th of December, 2019. Prior to that time, the last vending took place on the 28th of May, 2019. Before May 2019, the account vended at least once every month. The account was eventually disconnected on the 15th of October, 2020. This means that the account did not vend for 10 good months. For account no: 883139441501: L. E. Nwosu, the last vending was done at 10:24AM on the 27th of June, 2018. Prior to that time, the last vending took place on the 26th of April, 2017. Before April 2017, the account vended at least once every month. The account was eventually disconnected on the 15th of October, 2020. This means that the account did not vend for 30 good months. But more importantly, it was only after the disconnection of the resort that Lucius E. Nwosu, SAN vended after more than two years cumulatively. This is a most disingenuous attempt to mislead and hoodwink unsuspecting third parties, members of the public and the court, as we later learnt”, a source closed to the Company said.
In compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s Order/Regulation on Unauthorized Access, Meter Tampering and Bypass, 2017 made pursuant to the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, the resort was disconnected from the company’s network for meter bypass and unauthorized access. These infractions are also offences under S.1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 LFN, 2004 and S.400 of the Criminal Code, CAP C38 LFN, 2004.
Following the disconnection, officials of the resort alongside Anetochukwu Nworgu, Esq., a junior in the chambers of Lucius E. Nwosu, SAN, visited the company’s head office where they were duly informed of the infractions discovered at the resort and the penalty of N6, 773,935.90 before reconnection. The visitors after the meeting promised to revert with their management’s stand on the very friendly payment arrangement proposed by the company.
The company said while it was waiting for the officials of the resort to get back to it with their acceptance or refusal of the payment plan, PHED said it was surprised to receive the Writ of Summons in Suit No: NHC/62/CS/2020 between Oxygen Holiday Resort Ltd vs Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company from the resort.
However a call was placed seeking the Oxygen Holiday Resort Limited Response to the allegation. A man who received the call without saying his name even on request said he is the one managing the hotel and that the hotel regularly pays its electricity bills.
