By Ronald Mutum

The Nigeria Police Force has said it recovered money in both local and foreign currencies during a search on the Abuja residence of Senator Danjuma Goje of Gombe state, including other documents subject of ongoing investigation.

The police said cash sum of ₦18,056,000; cash sum of $19,850 and another cash sum of SR9, 400 Saudi Riyal, including other document were recovered from the house.

However, the Police spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood in a statement on Thursday said the search warrant executed on Senator Goje’s House has nothing to do with the 2017 budget.

Moshood argued that 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,” are false and misleading.

The report, Moshood said is 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.

He said its powers 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.

He added that: “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 20thApril, 2017 at No. 10 Haile Salasie Street, Asokoro District Abuja.”

He explained that the search 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.

He said: “It is worthy of note that on arrival of the Police team to Senator Danjuma 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,” he said.

He added that, “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 police said Danjuma Mohammed, a master Degree holder from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor is a nephew to Senator Danjuma Goje, Ango Usman, House keeper to Senator Danjuma Goje and Aisha Umar, Alias Iklima a step daughter to the Senator Danjuma Goje were the witness who signed after the completion of the search.

Moshood said: “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.”

The police said cash sum of ₦18,056,000; cash sum of $19,850 and another cash sum of SR9, 400 Saudi Riyal, including other document were recovered from the house.

The items recovered were 38 files and six envelopes containing documents, which include a file on funds spent on security administration and information gathering– a-g – 2009, file on release of funds for special operations a- f – 2009.”

Some items include, “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 and envelopes containing permit to operate as an oil industry service company (special categories) 2011.”

Others are: “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.”

Moshood said no single document relating to 2017 budget was sighted or removed by the Police team that executed the search warrant adding that there is video recording of the execution of the search warrant.

He also said the IGP 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.

He said, “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… and consistent with Sec. 9 & 144 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.”

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