Chidoka raises alarm, fears threat to his life

A few days after emerging victorious in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election to re-contest in the 2022 National Assembly Elections, the member representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Obinna Chidoka has raised alarm over a security breach at his office RM 2.02 at the House of Representatives in which suspected burglar broke into and turned things upside down.

His documents inside drawers were ransacked. The burglar also took away two desktops belonging to his aide and staff.

About this, Chidoka expressed fear of threat to his life as the circumstance surrounding the incident is yet to be unravelled.

In an interview, he said that he was “shocked and still frightened” because he didn’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.

He explained that on Monday this week he noticed the 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.

What is more disturbing, he said, is that the door leading directly 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 unravelled, the lawmaker said that he has written to 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 Officer (DPO) National Assembly as well as the Department of State Security (DSS) National Assembly demanding a thorough investigation.

Part of the letter he addressed to the Speaker which he made available to Daily Independent read: “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 is not functional at the moment”

He continued that “I want to also put it on record that the spare keys to offices including my office are in the custody of 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 to work especially since we are getting into the critical stage in our bid towards the 2023 election,” he asked. (Daily Independent)