THE Presidency, on Thursday, waded into the controversy trailing the raid of the residence of the chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje.
The intervention eventually led to the resolution of the crisis which, the Senate said on Wednesday, had stalled the budget passage process.
Senator Goje, while briefing the Senate on Wednesday had said 18 files, including N18 million, $19,000 and 4,000 Saudi Riyadh were taken away.
He also said his laptop and documents containing reports on the 2017 budget were carted away.
However, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, in a statement on Thursday, said the intervention by the Presidency had resolved the crisis.
Enang, in a statement, said the Presidency had intervened by reaching out to both parties involved and asked them to resort to dialogue as a way of reaching positive resolution on the matter.
He confirmed that all items taken from the residence of Senator Goje during the course of the raid on his residence last week had been returned to the lawmaker.
“Further to the visit of the Nigeria Police to the residence of Senator Danjuma Goje in the course of routine duties wherefrom certain items were taken by the police and issues subsequently arising, I am to inform that all the items taken in the course of routine police duties have been returned to the distinguished senator at his house by the Nigeria Police.
“Further, to state that all other issues relating to the subject matter are being addressed with a view to positive resolution.
“Meanwhile, we sincerely appreciate the Senate and the House of Representatives for the enormous work that they have put in to ensure timely passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill,” the statement read.
Sources confirmed that some behind-the-scene developments, including meetings between the Inspector-General of Police and top leadership of the National Assembly, helped to resolve the crisis.
It was gathered that the IG held a meeting with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on the matter.
Earlier in the day, the police had denied carting away files containing budget documents from Goje’s residence.
The police had, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, said the report that the police took away budget documents from the residence was false and misleading.
It, thereafter, listed all items taken away from the residence during the raid, including cash and files, adding that there was no single document relating to the budget in their inventory.
and then