Senate, Police In War Of Words Over Missing 2017 Budget

The Nigerian Senate and the Police have engaged in a war of words following allegations by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Danjuma Goje that the 2017 budget documents, including 18 files, and a laptop were missing from his apartment.

Recall that shortly after an operation was carried out in Goje’s house by the police following a wrong information from a whistle blower, Goje alleged that the police had stolen all relevant documents needed to process the 2017 Budget.

The red Chamber, therefore directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to immediately return those documents which were taken away from Senator Goje’s official residence.

The Senate further asked the Police to tender a public apology to the National Assembly in addition to returning all the document.

The police, not taking likely the theft accusations, described the claim as false and misleading.

In a statement issued Wednesday night by the Force PRO, Moshood Jimoh, the police said that no single paper, in the documents retrieved relates to the 2017 budget.

According to him, the police recovered cash sum of Eighteen Million and Fifty Six Thousand Naira, of Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty US dollars, Nine Thousand Four Hundred (SR9, 400) Saudi Riyal and Thirty Eight (38) Files and Six (6) Envelopes containing documents.

The statement described the claim by Senator Danjuma Goje as a deliberate distraction to cast aspersion on Police investigation to pervert justice.

Jimoh said, “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 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 No. 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 (3) 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.”

The police said there was nothing like budget among the items recovered from the senator’s house.

He added, “For avoidance of doubt, the followings are 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.

i. Cash sum of Eighteen Million and Fifty Six Thousand Naira (₦18,056,000) only

ii. Cash sum of Nineteen Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty (19,850 US Dollars).

iii. Cash sum of Nine Thousand Four Hundred (SR9, 400) Saudi Riyal

iv. Thirty Eight (38) Files and Six (6) Envelopes containing documents, some of which are listed below

a. File on funds spent on security administration and information gathering– a-g – 2009

b. File on release of funds for Special operations a- f – 2009

c. File on Gombe State Government of Nigeria Cash inflow 2005

d. File on Project 2007 – Executive Briefs on how to fight opposition in Gombe State – Strategies and Tactics

e. Envelopes containing permit to operate as an Oil Industry Service Company (special categories) 2011

f. A File containing write-ups on how Governor Shekarau plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru

g. 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,” it said.

“The Inspector General of Police honoured the invitation of the National Assembly on 26th April, 2017 to explain the legality of the search warrant that was executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje on the 20th of April, 2017.

“Further investigation is currently ongoing into the matter. Police actions are in line with the provisions of Sec. 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations as mentioned in paragraph 2 above and consistent with Sec. 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.”