Security Lapses Worsen in NASS as Burglars Loot Lawmakers’ Offices
Sunday Aborisade and Leke Baiyewu, Abuja
The security lapses in and around the National Assembly Complex seems to have become worse, with three members’ offices looted by thieves within the week.
On Wednesday, the office of the lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District and wife of the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was looted with computer sets and other devices stolen.
Also on Wednesday, the office of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Muhammed Gausu Boyi, representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, was burgled with valuable items carted away.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Thursday night by her aide, Nifemi Aje, disclosed that an HP laptop computer, Smile Internet modem, some copies of the Nigerian Constitution, machine box attached to the Closed Circuit Television camera, among others, were stolen by the yet to be identified thieves.
Tinubu, in the statement, disclosed that report of the theft had been lodged at the National Assembly’s Police Post.
Boyi, in a petition to the Sergeant at Arms, Brig.-Gen Mohammed Sani (retd.), reported that his office had been emptied by the thieves.
According to the letter dated 10th January, 2019, listing items missing from his office, Boyi said two Samsung Plasma Television sets, two HP photocopy machines, one water dispenser, one Samsung refrigerator and a printer machine had been stolen.
The lawmaker, in the letter he personally signed, said his office assistant, Mr Abba Yusuf, discovered the burglary incident in the early hours of Thursday when he resumed for work.
He noted in the letter that a similar report had been made at the office of the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly Division of the Police.
Another member of the House, Mr Muazu Lawal, from Zamfara State had also reported to both the Sergeant-at-Arms and the DPO’s office that his office was burgled in December 2018.
The DPO, Mr Umar Sambo, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the incidents had been reported to the division, saying that investigations of the crimes were already ongoing.
The offices had been closed when our correspondents visited them.
When contacted, Sani declined to comment on the thefts.
The PUNCH had earlier reported on December 9, 2018, how thieves were vandalising cars and stealing their batteries on the premises of the National Assembly.
Several cars had been vandalised in recent times, including that of one of our correspondents.
The incident was reported at the Crime Office of the National Assembly Division of the Nigeria Police, where our correspondent was told that several similar cases of vandalism and theft had been reported at the unit.
In spite of lodging the complaint, none of the officers on duty requested our correspondent to lead them to the vehicle for inspection.
Several National Assembly workers and journalists, who spoke on the issue, lamented the security lapses in and around the complex.
The security lapses in and around the National Assembly Complex seems to have become worse, with three members’ offices looted by thieves within the week.
On Wednesday, the office of the lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District and wife of the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was looted with computer sets and other devices stolen.
Also on Wednesday, the office of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Muhammed Gausu Boyi, representing Ringim/Taura Federal Constituency, Jigawa State, was burgled with valuable items carted away.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Thursday night by her aide, Nifemi Aje, disclosed that an HP laptop computer, Smile Internet modem, some copies of the Nigerian Constitution, machine box attached to the Closed Circuit Television camera, among others, were stolen by the yet to be identified thieves.
Tinubu, in the statement, disclosed that report of the theft had been lodged at the National Assembly’s Police Post.
Boyi, in a petition to the Sergeant at Arms, Brig.-Gen Mohammed Sani (retd.), reported that his office had been emptied by the thieves.
According to the letter dated 10th January, 2019, listing items missing from his office, Boyi said two Samsung Plasma Television sets, two HP photocopy machines, one water dispenser, one Samsung refrigerator and a printer machine had been stolen.
The lawmaker, in the letter he personally signed, said his office assistant, Mr Abba Yusuf, discovered the burglary incident in the early hours of Thursday when he resumed for work.
He noted in the letter that a similar report had been made at the office of the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly Division of the Police.
Another member of the House, Mr Muazu Lawal, from Zamfara State had also reported to both the Sergeant-at-Arms and the DPO’s office that his office was burgled in December 2018.
The DPO, Mr Umar Sambo, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the incidents had been reported to the division, saying that investigations of the crimes were already ongoing.
The offices had been closed when our correspondents visited them.
When contacted, Sani declined to comment on the thefts.
The PUNCH had earlier reported on December 9, 2018, how thieves were vandalising cars and stealing their batteries on the premises of the National Assembly.
Several cars had been vandalised in recent times, including that of one of our correspondents.
The incident was reported at the Crime Office of the National Assembly Division of the Nigeria Police, where our correspondent was told that several similar cases of vandalism and theft had been reported at the unit.
In spite of lodging the complaint, none of the officers on duty requested our correspondent to lead them to the vehicle for inspection.
Several National Assembly workers and journalists, who spoke on the issue, lamented the security lapses in and around the complex.
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