BEDC Staff Accused Of N38-Million Fraud Appear In Court

BEDC Staff Accused Of N38-Million Fraud Appear In Court

Two staff of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Adeyinka Oyebode and Samuel Ogunba, have been docked before the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, for alleged N38m fraud.

They were alleged to have forged BEDC electric bills and distributed them to customers within the Ore Service Unit.

The duo were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining, fraud, conversion, and stealing.

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

The charge sheet reads in parts: “That you, Oyebode Adeyinka and Ogunba Samuel, between January and February 2004, in Ore, Ondo State, while being employed by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) at the Ore Service Unit within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, with intent to defraud, forged BEDC electric bills and distributed same to customers, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(2)(c) 35 Cap 17 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria Act 2004.

“That you, Oyebode Adeyinka and Samuel Ogunba, between January and February 2004, in Ore, Ondo State, while being employed by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) at the Ore service unit within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by which you forged to obtain money from your employer, BEDC, and its customers in the sum of N38,490,175.81, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1) and Section 1(3) of the Law of the Federation of Nigeria Act 2004.”

Prosecuting counsel, M.O. Adetuwo, said the defendants fraudulently obtained N38.4 million from BEDC customers in the state and converted to their use.

But the defendants’ lawyer, O.J. Ifadasi, appealed to the court to grant his clients bail on the most liberal terms.

He promised they would not jump bail.

In his ruling, Justice Alexander Owoeye granted the defendants bail to the sum of N1m and one surety each in like sum.

Justice Owoeye said the defendants be remanded at the Olokuta prison pending when they perfected the bail condition.

He adjourned the case to September 19, 2024, for trial