The office of the erstwhile Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Michael Aondoakaa, was raided by about 50 armed mobile policemen on Wednesday in Abuja.
A source close to the minister told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that about 10 plain-clothed security operatives forcefully gained entry into the minister’s office and three other offices presumably in search of documents.
The source said that he could not tell what exactly the operatives went into the offices to do, adding: “they did not leave with any documents, but I cannot tell whether they took computer discs.
“One of them told me that the order to raid the ministry was given by the Police hierarchy a moment ago,” the source added.
Mr Ambrose Momoh, the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, however, said that the invasion of the premises of the Ministry of Justice by some security operatives was “a fact”.
He explained that the security agents invaded the premises at about 12.30 p.m. while the minister was attending the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation at the State House.
“Nobody can tell what exactly they came to do, but all I can say now is that they did not gain entry into any offices to conduct searches.
“The much we saw was that a substantial number of armed mobile policemen suddenly came and surrounded the premises for about 30 minutes and then left,” Momoh said.
When contacted, Mr Yemi Ajayi, Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, declined comments on the incident, saying he was out of the capital city at the time.
“I am afraid, you may have to speak to the Inspector-General of Police for information on the true position of things since the substantive Force PRO is also out of station attending a course,” he said.
NAN reports that the incident took place shortly before the announcement of a minor cabinet reshuffle in which Aondoakaa was named Minister of Special Duties.
Prince Adetokunbo Kayode is the new AGF and Minister of Justice, while the erstwhile Minister of Special Duties, Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure, replaces Kayode as Minister of Labour and Productivity.
(NAN)
