Five Department of State Service (DSS) officials attached to the office of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have been accused of stealing N310 million.
Five Army personnel were also involved in the crime.
The DSS announced on Sunday that two of the suspects, who allegedly robbed a Bureau De Change operator of the money on November 20, have been arrested while three are at large.
It also said N66.4 million of the stolen funds has been recovered.
A statement signed by Tony Opuiyo on behalf of the DSS is reproduced below:
The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that the Service has arrested two (2) out of five (5) of its Staff involved in the robbery and sharing, on 20th November, 2015, of the sum of three hundred and ten million naira (N310m) belonging to a Bureau De Change operator in Abuja. While three (3) of the DSS staff are now at large, the Military Authorities have commenced a detailed investigation of five (5) of its personnel involved in the crime.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Abdulrasheed Ahmadu MAIGARI of the DSS conspired with four (4) other colleagues of his namely: Solomon INUSA, Peter OKOYE, Patrick ISHAYA and George Mwatapwa IBBI, to carry out this reprehensible act. The five (5) military personnel were led by one Capt. Hussein Ishaku MSHELIA. Meanwhile, the Service has arrested MAIGARI and IBBI; and MSHELIA equally arrested by the Army authorities. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those still at large. A total of Sixty-Six Million Four Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty-five Naira (N66,437,445.00) and Six Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($6,200) have so far been recovered, while efforts are being made to recover the remaining amounts. It is to be noted that security agencies now act in concert, thus the joint investigation undertaken with the Police, Army and the DSS.
This action of the Service is in line with the posture of the current Administration and DSS management focus on professionalism, transparency and accountability. Those so far arrested have been suspended pending the completion of investigations. For the avoidance of doubt, the Service wants to reiterate its commitment to the basic ideals and principles as established by its forebears and will not spare anyone found to be contravening the rules and regulations or the laws of the land. We therefore encourage members of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of those at large to volunteer same to the Service or other security agency. The DSS also wishes to use this opportunity to assure all law abiding citizens of their safety and urge them to partner with the Service in the smooth discharge of its responsibilities.
