Assailants burgle, ransack Chidoka’s National Assembly office; lawmaker raises alarm

The member representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives Hon Obinna Chidoka has raised alarm over a clear security breach at his office RM 2.02 House of Representatives as suspected burglar broke into his office ransack his documents inside drawers and took away two desktops belonging to his aide and staff. The incident is coming few days after Chidoka emerged the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to stand for reelection into the Federal House in 2023 general election.

The lawmaker consequently expressed fear of threat to his life as the circumstances surrounding the incident is yet to be unraveled. Speaking to our correspondent on the incident, he said that he was shocked and still frightened because he doesn’t know if the burglar planted explosive devices inside his office with the intention to kill him or planted any suspicious package to incriminate him given his soaring popularity ahead of the 2023 general election.

Giving more details he explained that on Monday this week he noticed apparent removal of the desktop of his Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) and the desktop of his office secretary both of which constitute the entire workstation and data. He said that what is more disturbing to him is that the door leading directly to into his office was the access point of the intruder and it was clearly opened with a key and locked back after the items were removed.

Asked what he is doing to ensure that the circumstance behind the incident is unraveled, the lawmaker said that he has written the Speaker of the House Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, the Director Sergeant at Arm of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Divisional Police Office (DPO) National Assembly as well as The Department of State Security (DSS) National Assembly demanding for thorough investigation.

Part of the letter he addressed to the Speaker reads “I regret to bring to your notice the disturbing fact that my office was burgled sometime between the evening of Thursday May 26 and Monday May 30, 2022. My staff who noticed the incident on arrival to the office on Monday has since reported the matter to the Sergeant at Arm and the office of the DSS within the House of Representatives. Unfortunately from the preliminary information received from the security personnel the Closed Circuit Cameras covering my office area are not functional at the moment”

He continued “I want to also put it on record that the spare keys to offices including my office are in the custody at the Department of House Services I crave your kind indulgence to have this matter thoroughly investigated. You will recall my letter of September 29, 2020 where I reported the impersonation and fraudulent representation of myself by Mr Ifeanyi Ibezim. That incident exposed the compromise of the transport Unit of the National Assembly

“In as much as I am not making any accusations nothing and nobody should be ruled out in this incident. My personal security is at risk. May I request with humility and all sense of responsibility that while the investigation is on arrangements be made for computers to be provided for my staff to enable them work especially since we are getting into the critical stage in our bid towards 2023 election.