Robbers burgle Lagos secretariat, steal N3 million

Kunle Awosiyan |

Robbers broke into Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Friday night and carted away over N3 million, a source has told Hallmark News.

According to the source, the stolen money was withdrawn from a bank and kept in the Accountant Department of the ministry on Thursday so that government could pay some contract workers on Friday.

But the burglary occurred on the night of Friday when workers had already left the office. However, investigation revealed that about 20 civil servants are currently under interrogation by police authorities at Alausa Police Station over the issue.

The civil servants were mainly security men and staff of the audit and account departments. The robbers, according to the source gained access to the department through the ceiling.

Commenting, the Solicitor General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary,  Mr. Lawal Pedro said that the police had invited some civil servants over the issue for interrogation and that he would be ready to assist in any way the robbers would be fished out.

He queried “Why did the burgling not take place weeks before when there was no money and everybody was complaining? The incident could not have happened without an insider.”

According to him, all the security men that were on duty when the department was burgled are also being interrogated in addition to those working in the Accounts Department, adding, “I have given my nod for thorough investigation of the incident despite pressure to sweep the matter under the carpet.”

He said that the money carted away was in the region of N3 million but that he believes in procedure hence he has to bring in policemen to investigate the matter.

He said the money was meant to pay allowance to Nigerians who are used in ‘Probono Services, mediation, free legal services and others adding that since they are not staff, the ministry evolved the idea of giving them allowance for volunteering their expertise in mediation and in other areas,

“And they like it even though we don’t pay them”, he said adding that the allowance range from N5, 000 to N10, 000 per volunteer in a month,” he said.