The case of an Abuja property developer, and lawyer, Cecil Osakwe before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court over N11 million electricity theft slated for hearing on Thursday January 25 was stalled because the court did not sit.
Consequently, counsels in the matter, after meeting, picked April 16 for continuation of trial in the case.
The Federal Government had charged Mr Osakwe with N11 million electricity theft.
In the charge Mr Osakwe is alleged to have tampered with electricity meters which resulted in the loss of N11 million revenue to the government, thereby, committing an offence contrary to Section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
Mr Osakwe was said to have been caught by officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for allegedly stealing electricity at various properties including his residence.
However, the defendant challenged the legality of the task force that investigated the process leading to his arraignment.
He claimed that the said task force was unknown to the law.
He drew the attention of the court to a pending suit challenging the panel that carried out the investigation.
Last year, Mr Osakwe filed a civil suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Director of Public Prosecution and the police investigating officers.
When the matter came up for hearing on October 30, 2023, and upon the objection of the Ministry of Justice, the names of the 1st and 2nd defendants (AGF and DPP) were struck out from the suit, leaving the 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants.
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