Outgoing senators during the week evacuated their personal effects and office equipment which they bought at giveaway prices from the management of the National Assembly.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the senators bought a set of eleven office items at a cost of N367, 479.33 against their actual value of N3 million. However, the sales attracted N17, 498.83 as VAT.

The items sold included furniture, refrigerators, television sets, photocopy machines, HP printers, water dispensers, desktop computers, among others.

Investigation further revealed that while some of the senators bought the items themselves, others allowed their aides and civil servants attached to their offices to buy them.

The senators did not have to pay cash for the items, as the existing arrangement was for the management to deduct the cost from their severance package.

Senators who lost re-election as well as those returning were involved in the bazaar, since the management replaces all the items every four years.

The lawmakers similarly bought off official vehicles, mainly Sport

Utility Vehicles attached to them, also at giveaway prices. Our correspondent could not immediately establish the prices at which the vehicles were sold.

Substantially, the senators complied with the June 4 deadline given them by management of the National Assembly to clear their offices and return the keys to the appropriate department. (The Nation)