The office of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega went up in flames yesterday. However, a timely intervention by men of the commission, policemen and private security firm saved the day as they all rallied to put out the fire.

Meanwhile, the inferno had partly consumed the visitors room of the INEC boss, with the windows shattered by the fire. The blinds were completely burnt in addition to chairs, tables and air conditioners. Part of the ceiling was also melted and the walls charred.

Equipment such as photocopiers, printers, computer systems and other office equipments were quickly evacuated from the adjourning INEC Chairma’s Secretary’s office to safeguard them, while the fire was being put out.
National Commissioner in charge of Information, Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyebi who conducted newsmen round the burnt area explained that the smoke was noticed from the visitors room at about 10:40 a.m. yesterday and before help could come the whole room had been engulfed by thick smoke.

The INEC chairman was, however, not in the office when the inident occured.
He explained further that the fire was triggered by an electrical fault from one of the split systems in the visitors room, which was completely burnt with all the electrical wires melted.

He assured that apart from the burnt office equipment, no vital documents relating to the election or any other official matter was burnt. He also said the fire did not go beyond the visitors’ room before it was put out.
It was gathered that the Commission’s personnel alerted the fire service men within the INEC office but the fire was put out with the use of fire extinguishers in the offices and there was no need for the services of the fire men.

Soyebi maintained that the inferno was due mainly to an electrical fault and the Commission suspected no motive by anybody behind the incident.
When Daily Sun moved round the offices some 24 giant fire extinguishers had been dispensed to bring the fire under control.
A source within the Commission wondered why the office of the Chairman had become susceptible to fire outbreak annually, saying there was hardly a year without fire engulfing the Chairman’s office while recalling that such incidence was recorded last year too.
The latest incidence was the second in two months as the security post within the INEC was almost engulfed by fire last April but for timely joint efforts by security personnel around who also used fire extinguisher to douse the flame. .

make documents no burn abeg!!!!
There are court cases and tribunals in need of such documents!