THE Nigeria Police on Thursday, stated that the raid on the house of Senator Danjuma Goje has nothing to do with the 2017 budget.
This is in reaction to reports blaming the Police for carting away the 2017 budget documents and the House of Representatives, giving the force 24 hours to return the allegedly stolen documents.
In a statement issued by the Force Spokesperson in Abuja, CSP Jimoh Moshood, it said the reports are “false and misleading”.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to reports in the media credited to Senator Danjuma Abdullahi Goje captioned “Blame the Police if 2017 Budget is not Ready Senator Goje” “REPS gives Police 24 hours to return budget documents allegedly carted from Goje’s residence”.
“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.”
It maintained that prior to the search, a warrant was obtained from court to this effect.
“It is pertinent to set the record straight and inform Nigerians of the facts of the matter. 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 (3) 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.”
Items it said were taken from the Senator’s premises include: “Cash sum of Eighteen Million and Fifty-Six Thousand Naira (₦18,056,000) only.
“Cash sum of Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty (19,850 US Dollars).
“Cash sum of Nine Thousand Four Hundred (SR9, 400) Saudi Riyal.”
Also, it said documents which include Thirty Eight (38) Files and Six (6) Envelopes containing documents, were: “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.
“A File containing write-ups on how Governor Shekarau plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru.
“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.”
The Police stressed that there was no single document relating to 2017 budget sighted or removed by the Police team that executed the search warrant adding that there is a video recording of the execution of the search warrant.
The statement added that: “Further investigation is currently ongoing into the matter. Police actions are in line with the provisions of Section 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations as mentioned in paragraph 2 above and consistent with Section 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
“The Nigeria Police Force sees the report in the media credited to Senator Danjuma Goje as a deliberate distraction to cast aspersion on Police investigation to pervert the end of justice.
“Members of the public are hereby implored to disregards the report as the search warrant which was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje has nothing to do with 2017 budget.”
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