A group, the Anti-Corruption Network, on Monday staged a protest at the Victoria Island, Lagos offices of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, over the missing N2.1bn. it called on the Federal Government to sack and prosecute the entire management and board of the minting company.
The money, newly-printed N1000 notes, allegedly disappeared from the vaults of NSPMC last week.
The group also said that any attempt to sweep the case under the carpet would be severely resisted, noting that considering the fact that it will require at least, one 30-tonne truck or three bullion vans to move such a huge volume of physical cash, it is ridiculous to say that such money disappeared without a trace. Lagos State Coordinator of the group, Mr. Ayo Oyalowo, said, “We are gathered here today as law-abiding and concerned citizens of Nigeria to show our displeasure towards the shameless and barefooted looting that has characterised the present government in Nigeria.
“How do you explain the disappearance of a whopping N2.1bn from the vaults of the NSPMC? And as we speak, all that have been done or we have heard from the officials are some half-hearted and unconvincing speeches.
“Let the Federal Government of Nigeria immediately fire the entire management and board of NSPMC. We also ask that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission diligently prosecute anyone found culpable in this shameful act.”
He added that a society where criminals continued to get away with huge crimes is an open invitation to anarchy as such development will eventually force people to take the law into their own hands.