Man arrested for allegedly selling free government meters in Asaba

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba, Delta State, have arrested one Aliu Junior Fayemi for allegedly diverting and selling meters intended for distribution under the government’s Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP). The arrest followed a theft complaint lodged by the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) against the suspect. […]

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Asaba, Delta State, have arrested one Aliu Junior Fayemi for allegedly diverting and selling meters intended for distribution under the government’s Distribution Sector Recovery Program (DISREP).

The arrest followed a theft complaint lodged by the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) against the suspect.

The suspect allegedly diverted and sold four meters to various customers in Asaba, rather than installing them for designated BEDC customers under the free DISREP metering scheme.

The suspect reportedly sold single-phase meters for N145,000 and three-phase meters for N250,000 contrary to the program’s objective of providing free meters to bridge the metering gap in the Nigerian power sector.

Confirming the arrest, the Regional Head for Asaba, Gboyega Agunlejika, disclosed that all diverted meters have been recovered from the buyers.

He stated that the suspect has been handed over to the police for prosecution, assuring the public that accomplices involved in the illegal transactions would also be apprehended.

Engr. Jonathan Lawani, Acting Managing Director of BEDC, advised customers to desist from engaging private individuals to procure meters, even under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.