Two separate enforcement actions in Osun and Kano have resulted in arrests and a prison sentence after investigators uncovered acts of electricity meter manipulation and a multimillion naira investment scam, underscoring renewed pressure on offenders tampering with public utilities and financial systems. In Osun State, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arrested two men over allegations of conspiracy, tampering with a prepaid electricity meter and unlawful vending of electricity units. The suspects, Babatunde, 46, and Akin, 40, were picked up by the Osun State Command following a complaint tied to irregularities discovered on a customer’s meter.
The case began when a resident using a prepaid meter supplied by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company noticed that his device stopped accepting recharge tokens. Unable to load units, he sought the assistance of Babatunde, an electrician, who assured him that the fault would be corrected.
What initially appeared to be a routine technical problem later evolved into a criminal investigation. According to findings by the NSCDC, Babatunde discovered that he could not properly repair the device. Rather than return the meter to the distribution company or advise the customer to follow official procedures, he allegedly contacted Akin, identified as a former staff member of IBEDC. Investigators say the duo proceeded to unlawfully reconfigure the meter. In a statement made during interrogation, Babatunde reportedly admitted that the meter was formatted outside approved protocols and that 200 electricity units were made to appear on the device without any corresponding payment. The alteration allowed power to be consumed without lawful purchase of tokens.
The irregularity did not go unnoticed for long. Routine monitoring systems deployed by IBEDC flagged the anomaly. After confirming that the credited units were not legitimately purchased, the company escalated the matter to the NSCDC for further action. The Osun State Commandant of the Corps, Igbalawole Sotiyo, described the conduct as a direct attack on critical national infrastructure. He warned electricians and technical service providers against engaging in unauthorized access to metering systems, illegal sale of electricity units or any conduct that undermines the power sector.
He emphasized that electricity infrastructure forms part of essential national assets and that interference with such systems carries legal consequences. According to him, the command remains vigilant in tracking infractions that affect revenue collection and the stability of the electricity supply chain.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court once investigations are concluded. Residents were urged to report suspicious activities relating to electricity meters and other public utilities to the nearest NSCDC office. The command reiterated that safeguarding public infrastructure requires cooperation between enforcement agencies and the community. The development reflects broader concerns within the power sector, where meter bypass and unauthorized unit loading continue to undermine distribution companies. Such practices not only deprive operators of revenue but also shift the financial burden onto compliant customers. Enforcement agencies have increasingly treated meter tampering as economic sabotage rather than a minor regulatory breach.
Bank Staff Jailed Over N22.35 Million False Investment Scheme
In Kano, the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured the conviction of a bank employee who admitted to defrauding an investor of more than twenty two million naira under the guise of a financial product.
Janet Theophilus Danjuma was arraigned before Justice S M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on a charge of obtaining money by false pretense. Prosecutors told the court that the defendant, a staff member of Taj Bank Limited at its Nai’bawa Branch in Kano, exploited her position to gain the trust of a customer. According to the charge, Danjuma collected N22,350,000 from Wade Bamaiyi in October 2024. She allegedly claimed that the funds would be invested in a CASA program associated with the bank. Investigators later established that the purported investment opportunity did not exist in the form presented to the victim.
When the charge was read in court, the defendant pleaded guilty. Following the plea, prosecuting counsel Sadiq Huseini outlined the circumstances that led to the charge. He explained that Danjuma relied on the reputation of a legitimate banking product to persuade the victim to part with his funds. Rather than channel the money into any authorized scheme, she diverted the entire amount into her personal account.
The EFCC traced the flow of the funds during its investigation and confirmed that the money did not pass through any official investment channel. The commission argued that the deception was deliberate and calculated to exploit the confidence customers repose in financial institutions. Justice Shuaibu convicted Danjuma and sentenced her to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine. The ruling brings the criminal proceedings to a close and reinforces the court’s stance on financial crimes committed under the cloak of professional trust.
The case highlights the risks associated with informal investment arrangements, even when presented by insiders within recognized institutions. Financial experts often advise customers to insist on official documentation, transparent transaction records and confirmation directly from the institution before committing substantial sums. For the EFCC, the conviction represents another enforcement step in its mandate to combat advance fee fraud and related offenses. By prosecuting insiders who manipulate institutional credibility for personal gain, the agency aims to deter similar conduct within the banking sector.
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