The House of Representatives on Saturday said it
was shocked to hear that N2.1bn of newly printed N1,000 notes was missing at the
Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company.
Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor,
Lamido Sanusi, launched an investigation to ascertain the quantity of money
missing at the NSPMC and reportedly asked the Managing Director of the agency,
Ehi Okomoyon, and its Head of Security, Emmanuel Bala, to go on compulsory
leave.
The Chairman, House Committee on Banking and
Currency, Mr. Chukwudi Onyereri, said that the committee
had already waded into the matter and was in search of the truth.
He said due to “conflicting information” before
the committee on the theft, it had opted to invite Sanusi and the management of
the NSPMC.
He said, “The MD, before his suspension, said the
missing amount was about N1.5m. But, the governor of the CBN said it was about
N2bn. As a House, we have a responsibility to find out what exactly happened.
That is the right step to take now. We shall invite all the parties.”
When contacted on Saturday, the Director,
Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, in a
telephone interview with our correspondent said he could not comment on the
issue.
He said, “I don’t speak for the Mint. I speak for
the CBN and I think it would be appropriate to direct your enquiries to
them.”
The Media Adviser to the NSPMC, Mr. Obi Adiele,
however said it was N900, 000 and not N2.5bn that was stolen at the company.
He said, “The amount reported is false. It was
not N2.1bn that was stolen. What happened was that there was a security breach
and one of the security operatives was arrested with about N900,000 in Lagos two
weeks ago.
“An investigative audit panel has been set up to
find out what really happened and they are still carrying out investigations.
Their report will be ready by January.”
Meanwhile, opposition political parties have
attributed the cash theft to the Federal Government’s laxity in fighting
corruption.
The National Publicity Secretary of the All
Nigeria Peoples Party, Emma Uneukwu, said, “One basic fact is that corruption
has become endemic in this country and the present leadership is paying lip
service to it. Since people have discovered that the present government is not
serious with fighting corruption, they have resorted to all forms of criminality
and brazen acts of corruption. It’s happening everywhere, the pension board, the
NNPC, name it. So, the NSPMC is not an exception.
“Until Nigeria gets a leader, who is serious with
fighting corruption, embarrassing things like this will keep happening and the
country will not move forward.”
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of
the Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, said the incident had
shown that corruption had reached new heights in the country.
He said, “If confirmed, this is unprecedented in
Nigeria’s history. It seems, under this regime, all forms of bizarre acts of
brigandage and banditry are possible. Do not be surprised that like all other
cases of corruption, no conviction shall be established. Under this Jonathan-led
regime, Nigeria’s bleeding and pillaging has continued unabated.”
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary
of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said the party was
investigating the incident.
“This might be just the tip of the iceberg,” he
said.
