A disturbing wave of allegations has emerged from a residential property on 24 Ezeh Akporube Street, Off Okpanam Road, Asaba, where a tenant is crying foul over what he described as gross abuse of responsibility, illegal utility disconnections, and financial impropriety by the property’s caretaker.
In a petition addressed to the Divisional Police Officer, GRA Police Station, dated July 17, 2025, a tenant and human rights advocate, Comrade Orusi Joseph, accused Mr. Paul Ebi Osemekeh, the caretaker of the building, of engaging in “illegal, unlawful disconnection” of water supply and embezzlement of electricity bill payments spanning several months.
Investigation revealed that Mr. Paul Ebi Osemekeh is a Superintendent and currently serves as the Commander of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The tenant, who also doubles as the Coordinator of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Asaba chapter, alleged that Mr. Osemekeh disconnected water from his apartment’s bathroom without any notice or explanation, leaving only the kitchen tap connected, despite its inability to serve the household adequately.
“This disconnection was without any Court Order and deem UNLAWFUL and carried out without any prior communication. For three years, I’ve endured persistent water supply issues due to unground leakage and or sabotage that results in the tanks inability to hold water for more than 45 minutes, yet all complaints were ignored,” Joseph wrote.
Electricity Scam Alleged
The most damning claims, however, center on what appears to be a long-running electricity billing scam.
According to the petition, Mr. Osemekeh allegedly misled tenants into paying inflated electricity bills under false pretenses.
He reportedly claimed that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) had raised monthly tariffs from N25,000 to N45,000, an assertion Joseph verified to be false after independently visiting the BEDC office in Asaba.
“BEDC confirmed that monthly bills remained between N6,500 and N12,500. Yet, Mr. Osemekeh collected as much as N6,000 per tenant based on the falsified rates and failed to remit payments for multiple months between 2021 and 2025,” the petitioner alleged.
A breakdown of the fraudulent transactions outlined in the petition shows that for both meters on the property (0000787142 and 0000787143), electricity bill payments for numerous months were collected but never remitted to BEDC.
In 2022, the property was disconnected from the power grid, prompting the caretaker, Mr. Paul Ebi Osemekeh, to demand that tenants collectively contribute ₦200,000 for reconnection.
Mr. Joseph, who had already paid six months’ worth of electricity bills in advance, was outraged by the demand and insisted he should not be made to bear the cost of the caretaker’s failure.
Acting in his capacity as a human rights activist, he took the matter to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), demanding an unconditional reconnection.
BEDC officials, after reviewing his complaint, explained that the disconnection resulted from unpaid bills that had accumulated over six to seven months, confirming that the caretaker had failed to remit payments during that period.
Following negotiations, the reconnection fee was reduced to ₦100,000, which was again shared among all tenants, including Mr. Joseph, and paid to BEDC.
The episode, Mr. Joseph insists, was a direct consequence of the caretaker’s negligence and financial mismanagement.
Other Complaints: Gate Sabotage and Infrastructure Neglect
Beyond utility fraud, Mr. Osemekeh is also being accused of deliberate sabotage and negligence.
The petition claims that after changing the building’s gate, the gate was left unfloored, making it impossible for him to drive in for 2 months.
Even after Joseph reportedly donated almost full bag of cement to facilitate repairs, the flooring was poorly executed, allegedly “deliberately” so, causing further damage to his vehicle.
The situation, according to the petitioner, has led to “severe inconveniences, mental stress, and financial losses” for his family, compounded by what he describes as the caretaker’s arrogant and aggressive response when confronted with the allegations.
Similarly, Mr. Joseph also accused the caretaker, Mr. Osemekeh, of unlawfully increasing rent without the knowledge or approval of the property owner.
Demands for Justice and Police Action
Joseph, in his petition, is demanding immediate reconnection of water supply, proper reflooring of the compound, refund of reconnection fees from 2022, and a full investigation into the misappropriated utility funds, which he estimates at over N360,000.
He also warned against further harassment or intimidation by Mr. Osemekeh or his proxies, urging law enforcement to intervene before the situation escalates.
in a phone call with Mr. Paul Ebi Osemekeh for comment, he said “I am not ready to talk on this issue because the case is in the Police right now so if you want information about the case then come to GRA Police Station Asaba by 12noon tomorrow.
“The Joseph Orusi can go to Court if he’s not satisfied with the Police so come over to the Police Station if you want any information concerning it…. I can’t talk in a matter already before the police”. After which he cut the call immediately and refused to pick for further information.
The landlord, Mr. Benjamin Nawokobi, alleged to have authorized some of the actions, has also not responded to inquiries.
This case adds to growing concerns over unregulated practices by caretakers in Nigeria’s rental housing sector, prompting renewed calls for stricter oversight and tenant protection frameworks