A case of ‘steal and destroy the evidence’ seems a likely scenario as preliminary report by the police Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) over the recent fire incident at the national secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) popularly called, “Glass House” has indicated that the incident was an act of sabotage.

Our Correspondent at the weekend stumbled on the draft report of Police investigation into the fire outbreak. Police investigator attach to the case also told our Correspondent that, everything about the incident was deliberate.

“They set that place ablaze, just to kill some vital information that EFCC was looking into in their investigation of some money laundering allegation and funds misapplication against some top NFF officials after the last World Cup tournament in Brazil.”

The policeman said, fortunately for the arsonists, the fire destroyed all what they wanted destroy. “The timing of the fire was right, the day was perfect and the executioners of the job, seem to be professionals.”

Our Correspondent contacted the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Emmanuel Ojukwu, over the report, but he would not pick his phone calls or return our Correspondent’s calls. An SMS forwarded also, was not replied.” But the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba, in a telephone chat, said he was yet to be briefed by Police investigators handling the matter. “I have nothing to tell you. I have not even seen the said report yet, so I don’t know what to say. All I know is that the FCID is investigating that fire incident.”

Police said the fire only destroyed the account records department of the NFF. The investigating cop added that the full report of the alleged arson would be ready in the next two weeks.

Police however added that, they did stumble on a very good lead that would give a clearer picture about all the twists and game-playing around the Glass House.

“They arsonist were smart, but not enough. We have a good lead that we are following and it is giving us the bigger picture of the entire saga.”

The fire said to have started from an alleged spark in the accountant’s office quickly spread through the building before it was eventually brought under control by men of the fire service department.

The Nigeria Football Federation Abuja Secretariat declared that it was able to rescue some of the trophies won by the national teams from its offices after the blaze swept through the building.

Among the trophies retrieved were the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy won in South Africa and the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup trophy won in the United Arab Emirates.

However, thousands of records and financial documents were lost in the incident. The fire according to the General Secretary Musa Amadu emanated from the left wing of the third floor of the NFF Secretariat.

The inferno burnt down all the documents in the accountant’s office, swept through the office of the general secretary and destroyed most of the documents in the office and in the offices in the left wing of the building.

Amadu described the incident thus: “I think the fire may have started from a power surge. We tried as much as we can, but it is quite unfortunate.

“I have assured you, we are going to reassess those things that have got burnt, and those missing.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the job of the Federation would not be affected in any way, we would continue our normal duties until we get to the root of the whole thing,” he said.

Amadu who was on ground to salvage some of the documents in his office, said they were able to rescue most of the trophies won by the country’s national teams.

Insinuations are rife that the fire might have been caused in order to destroy documents as members of the NFF board are still at loggerheads.