By Laleye Dipo
Unknown persons are reported to have burgled the Niger State House of Assembly in Minna carting away not less than N15 million.
It was learnt that the target of the burglars was the strong room of the state legislature, where most of the money meant for the day-to-day running of the assembly is usually kept.
Part of the money stolen was said to be for the upkeep allowance of a lawmaker including his furniture allowance said to be about N6 million.
Another legislator was reported to have lost approximately N3 million when the strong room was forced open.
The burglary was discovered when a lawmaker went to the Assembly complex Saturday and approached the accounts department messenger that he wanted to deposit money in the strongroom for safe keeping till Monday.
THISDAY gathered that the messenger led the lawmaker to the department only to find out that the door to the strongroom had been forced open and investigations revealed that the only item stolen was the money kept there for safe keeping
The incident was reported to the police leading to the arrest and detention of virtually all staff of the accounts department.
No staff of the Assembly was prepared to speak on the matter, but the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, when contacted, confirmed the theft but not the amount stolen.
“I can confirm an incident of house breaking and theft, we are investigating the matter,” Abiodun said.
Meanwhile, additional security has been provided in the Assembly complex with those coming and going out being thoroughly checked.
