The Office of the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State is reportedly shaken by an alleged theft of an undisclosed amount in US Dollars.
According to Daily Post, it was learnt that Deputy Governor, Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, has set a deadline for the restitution of the allegedly stolen funds.
According to an anonymous confidential aide of the deputy governor, who spoke with Daily Post said the stolen sum is estimated to be approximately N20 million.
The incident in question unfolded just before the Christmas break, implicating two security aides and a Protocol Officer within the deputy governor’s office.
These individuals are currently under suspicion for allegedly conspiring to carry out the theft, creating a significant disturbance within the deputy governor’s office.
An anonymous insider, who refrained from disclosing their identity due to a lack of authorization to discuss the matter, unveiled that the trio, whose identities are being kept confidential, purportedly stole the funds.
Notably, the ill-gotten gains were allegedly divided among themselves, with the security aides receiving the majority of the stolen money, according to the insider.
The confidential aide further claimed that the security aides utilized their share to purchase a vehicle and a motorcycle, while the protocol officer, who received N3.5 million, used his share to acquire a house.
The alleged stolen funds, reported to be in foreign currency, were stated to belong to foreign investors interested in Lithium mining in Nasarawa State.
The source suggested the possibility that leaving the money in the deputy governor’s office after a meeting involving three companies in a mining rights dispute was a deliberate attempt to frame the deputy governor in some way.
“I think the money was left in the deputy governor’s office to set him up and indict him in a bribery scandal in order to rubbish his image for refusing to compromise or do their bidding,” the source said.
The source further revealed that, upon the discovery of the purported theft, Deputy Governor Akabe initiated an independent investigation, which reportedly verified the involvement of the three individuals.
Allegedly, the suspects have admitted to the crime, providing details on how they distributed the stolen money among themselves.
In response, the deputy governor has set a deadline for the suspects to return the stolen funds in dollars, with the intention of restoring them to the rightful owner, believed to be a foreign investor involved in the lithium mining project.
The matter is currently within the jurisdiction of the relevant security authorities. Notably, the two security aides implicated in the incident are associated with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
