PHCN ‘employee’ pleads guilty to N338,000 prepaid metre scam

A 34-year-old self-acclaimed Power Holding Company of Nigeria Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) employee, Adeola Ogunmolu, on Tuesday pleaded guilty before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N338,000 under guise of supplying prepaid metre.

Ogunmolu, who resides at Ifako area of Lagos, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretense and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Bassey, had told the court that the defendant fraudulently obtained the said money from two complainants.

According to him, sometime in March, at Ogunsanya Street Ifako, Gbagada, the defendant obtained N100,000 from the first complainant, one Mr Babatunde Ogunsemowo, on the pretext of supplying a prepaid meter for his apartment.

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The prosecutor said that the defendant brought a faulty prepaid metre to the complainant.

“He, however, collected another N40,000 from the complainant to generate prepaid metre code but failed to do so.“

“Also on July 6 and July 8, at Oladipupo close, the defendant obtained N198,000 from one Mrs Charity Arinze, under the pretense of supplying a prepaid metre to her.

“The defendant could not supply the prepaid metre after claiming to be an employee of PHCN

“He converted the money to his personal use,” the prosecutor said.

He said that the offenses contravened the provisions of Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

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The Magistrate, Mrs O.A Daodu, however, remanded the defendant in custody.

She adjourned the case until Sept. 5 for the review of facts and possible sentencing.