The Senate, yesterday, directed the National Assembly management to investigate all burglary issues that had been reported so far, and furnish the leadership of the chamber with the outcome of its investigations as soon as possible.
The Senate made the resolution following a point of order raised by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central), who drew the attention of the Senate to a burglary case that occurred in her office while the National Assembly was still in the New Year break.
Tinubu, while raising the point of order, expressed apprehension that she was no longer feeling safe in her National Assembly office, following a burglary incident that occurred there during the Christmas and New Year recess.
The lawmaker, who came under Order 43 (personal explanation), had raised the alarm that the incident in her office was giving her serious concern. She said: “We were closed for the Christmas break on 21st December 2018.
However, my office had been closed on the 7th December, as I had constituency engagements and town hall meetings scheduled for the period. “On Wednesday, 9th January, 2019, my staff upon resumption noticed some anomalies, prompting an inspection. It was discovered that one HP laptop computer, CCTV camera box, one Smile Internet device and copies of Laws of the Federation had been carted away. “I have been in the Senate for the past eight years.
Usually, we know what happens when we are on break when a lot of stuff happens; we come back and don’t find television. And this time, the occurrence is worrisome because this is the time we are all going for election and right now, I don’t feel safe in my office. “Subsequently, a report was lodged at the Police Post of the National Assembly.”
She, therefore, urged the Senate to direct the National Assembly management to replace all the items stolen in her office. In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, shocked his colleagues when he revealed how some thieves broke into the luxury car of a senator and stole huge sums of money. Ekweremadu, who revealed the ugly development while reacting to Tinubu’s point of order, lamented that the multimillion naira Close Circuit Television (CCTV) device installed in the National Assembly was not working as at the time the incident quesoccurred.
The DSP sympathised with Tinubu, but noted that the incident in her office was not an isolated matter because a similar incident happened in the House of Representatives. He said: “A colleague came for a transaction and left some money in his car during the Christmas break. Some people broke into the car and removed some money.
“Since he parked his car close to the main Senate complex, he thought that the CCTV camera would capture the activities of the burglars, but regrettably, the CCTV did not work when it was checked and it is really embarrassing.” He, therefore, directed the National Assembly management to investigate all burglary issues that had been reported so far, and furnish the leadership of the federal parliament with the outcome of its investigations as soon as possible
