Disregard Senator Goje’s allegations, police tell Nigerians

THE Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Thursday, described as misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians about the statutory roles and duties of the police during the recent invasion of Senator Danjuma Abdullahi Goje’s residence in Abuja.

Apparently reacting to the captioned in some dailies “Blame the Police if 2017 Budget is not Ready- Senator Goje” and “REPS gives Police 24 hours to return budget documents allegedly carted from Goje’s residence”, the police authorities said the report in its entirety was false, urging Nigerians to disregard it as the search warrant which was professionally executed in the house of Senator Goje has nothing to do with 2017 budget.

The position of the police was made known in a press statement issued and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), a copy of which was made available to the Tribune Online in Abuja, on Thursday.

According to the statement, “the report in its entirety is false, misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians about the statutory roles and duties of the Nigeria Police Force as provided under Sections 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations, which includes prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations, and authority to enter any house or premises to execute search warrant.

“A search warrant duly obtained from court of competent jurisdiction was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danujma Goje on 20th April, 2017 at 10, Haile Salasie Street, Asokoro District Abuja which was subsequent upon intelligence report at the disposal of the force that large sum of money suspected to be stolen public funds and other incriminating items are about to be moved out of the said house.

“It is worthy of note that on arrival of the Police team to Senator Danujma Goje’s house, the house keeper Ango Usman informed the Senator of the presence and mission of the team and he promised coming but later switched off his phone.

“The search warrant was successfully executed in the presence of three close relatives of Senator Danjuma Goje who are residing in the house and the recoveries were made in their presence. The three relatives listed below opened the house and took the Police team round the building, and endorsed their signatures after the completion of the search as required by the procedure of law on search warrant which contained the money, documents and Laptop recovered, and none of the items include 2017 budget document. This is available for inspection by any interested members of the public”, the statement explained.

The three relatives, according to the statement, include Danjuma Mohammed, a master Degree holder from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor is a nephew to Senator Goje, while Ango Usman is house keeper and Aisha Umar, Alias Iklima, a step daughter to the embattled Senator.

It stated that the Inspector General of Police, therefore, honoured the invitation of the National Assembly, on Wednesday, to explain the legality of the search warrant that was executed in the house of Senator Goje on April 20.

The statement said further investigation was currently ongoing into the matter, as Police actions were in line with the provisions of Section 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations as mentioned in paragraph two above and consistent with Section 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

For avoidance of doubt, the followings were the sum of money both in local and foreign currencies, vital documents and a Laptop recovered for investigation when the search warrant was executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje: cash sum of ₦18,056,000 only; cash sum of 19,850 US Dollars; cash sum of SR9, 400 Saudi Riyal; 38 files and six envelopes containing documents, some of which were listed below

“File on funds spent on security administration and information gathering– a-g – 2009; file on release of funds for  Special operations a- f  – 2009; file on Gombe State Government of Nigeria Cash inflow 2005; file on Project 2007 – Executive Briefs on how to fight opposition in Gombe State – Strategies and Tactics; envelopes containing permit to operate as an Oil Industry Service Company (special categories) 2011; as well as a file containing write-ups on how Governor Shekarau plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru and letters from Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Sarkin Yakin Gombe) to the MD LUBELL Nigeria Ltd of proposed residential Devt at Kashere Phase II dated 16/01/2007 and 19/11/2010.