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Tag: SENATOR

Rivers East district has no senator, says Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said Rivers East has no senator.

He spoke yesterday at a Thanksgiving Service for Senator George Thompson Sekibo, at the St Thomas Anglican Church in Diobu.

Sekibo was sacked from the National Assembly by the Court of Appeal last week.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying key national institutions.

Wike said following APC’s negative governance style, the police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have metamorphosed into rigging machines threatening the peace of the country.

According to him, the Appeal Court judgment, which led to the loss of Rivers East mandate is a fallout of the “unfortunate illegal alliance between the police and INEC”.

He explained the APC tendered results certified by the Police to the tribunal, which the tribunal relied on, rather than results declared by INEC on election day. He said incidentally, both results had the same serial numbers, which showed the fraud by the two institutions.

He said: “Instead of bringing change as they promised, things are getting worse. They have introduced extreme fraud in the country, especially denying the people their mandate.”

The governor said nobody should be afraid of the Police and Army in defence of his mandate in 2019.

“Nobody should be afraid of the Police or Army, because liberty comes with a price. They have nothing to campaign with outside the use of security. I am ready to place myself on the line. Nobody will take Rivers State, ” he said.

Wike explained he was at the airport to receive Buhari because the President is for all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties.

He, however, said he would continue to disagree with policies of the Federal Government, especially the alleged faulty fight against corruption.

Sekibo said he received unflinching support from Wike and Ikwerre all through his political struggle.

He said there was no Ikwerre agenda in his ouster from the Senate.

Sekibo said: “If it was an Ikwerre Agenda, it would have been displayed at the point of voting. At the tribunal, those who took away the mandate were not Ikwerre people”.

Venerable Richard Okpara urged judicial officers to use their constitutional powers for the good of the country.

He also called on the Federal Government to learn to accommodate all political interests, saying the political space should not be overheated .

“We must learn to blend for the good of the nation. We must be careful not to heat the polity. Variety is the spice of life, monotony kills interest.”

August 28, 2017
Senator calls for more budgetary allocation

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West) has called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to Lagos West Senatorial District in view of its unequal population, as well as the numerous Federal Government establishments.

Adeola made the plea yesterday during his town hall meeting where he distributed empowerment materials to some beneficiaries in his constituency.

According to him, his Senatorial Districts is the largest in the country, with a population of about 12 million people, and notable federal institutions.

“Lagos West also accommodates strategic Federal Government institutions and key corporate concerns. From the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, to large military formations, research institutions and huge industrial establishments,”Adeola added.

He lamented that this huge burden is heaved on the Lagos State government, in addition to the challenges it has to bear in attending to the huge development and massive urbanisation going on in the state.

The Senator thanked party leaders and well wishers, noting that the empowerment materials was his little contribution towards their economic enhancement and self-reliance.

He challenged them to use the materials well and so encourage him to give more to others who did not partake in the current ones.

Some of the empowerment materials distributed include freezers, generators, vulcanising machines, hair dryer machines and grading machines.

Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Adebule ,who was represented by Lanre Ogunyemi, warned the beneficiaries against selling the equipment but make a success of it.

August 2, 2017
Senator allegedly embezzled N47billion while a Governor

Seven lawmakers on trial for ‘money laundering’

Eighteen senators are under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N367.5billion fraud, it was learnt yesterday.

Seven are on trial. Some of the cases date back to 10 years.

A senator is being investigated for alleged stamp duty infractions.

One or two Senators (outside the list) are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the N19billion and $86million London-Paris Club refund in which seven governors have been implicated.

The Nation stumbled on a fact-sheet which indicates that 11 of the senators under investigation are from the North. The others are from the South.

Those facing trial include two from Northcentral, three from Northwest, one from Northeast and one from Southeast.

Those being investigated cut across the six-geopolitical zones.

Most of the N367.5billion alleged fraud border on money laundering, misappropriation, unexecuted contracts, diversion of public funds to campaigns, and others.

In one of the cases, a senator is being probed for alleged diversion of about N108billion while he was a governor in one of the states in the South-South.

A senator allegedly embezzled about N47billion when he was a governor. Investigators believe he was aided by his wife and son.

A senator is standing trial for alleged mismanagement of N1.2billion ecological funds; another allegedly diverted to other uses N1billion meant for the repair of a collapsed dam.

The other strands of the fraud include laundering of N40billion by a senator from the North-East; diversion of N3billion to the campaign by a North-West Senator; 149-count charge of mismanagement of N15billion by a senator from the North-Central and the arraignment of a North-West senator for allegedly N52billion fraud.

There are N9billion case involving a senator from the South-East; N2.1billion contract fraud by a member of the Upper Chamber from the South-South; N10.2billion fraud traced to a senator from the North-West and N2billion diverted funds credited to a senator from the North-Central.

Two aides of a senator, who is being probed for alleged illegal deduction of N3.5billion from the London-Paris Club refund have been quizzed.

Three new senators from the North-Central, South-East and South-West have been under investigation for some infractions, including alleged Stamp Duty collection fraud.

An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The case files of all these 18 senators are already with us. Seven of them are already on trial.

“But, certainly, 11 others will be prosecuted at the appropriate time. It may interest you that some agencies in a few international jurisdictions are interested in some of the cases against some of these senators.

“It might also interest you that some of these cases predated the appointment of the present Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu. But since continuity is a cardinal principle of the EFCC, Magu has decided to ensure that the matters in court are pursued to logical conclusion. There is also no waiver for all cases undergoing investigation.”

In response to a question, the source added: “Magu has no personal problem with any senator. He inherited most of these cases.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some of the senators have also made a “strong case for the discontinuation of either their investigation or prosecution by the EFCC as part of the conditions for supporting Magu.

“In one of the lobbying sessions, a senator from the North-East said he committed no crime to have been subjected to trial by the EFCC.

“Although a Senator from the North-Central was aggrieved, he was reported to have said: ‘I won’t block the nomination of Magu because he is probing me. I have forgiven him. But I know I did not commit any fraud and I will be vindicated in the end.”

July 18, 2017
…ENTERS THE ENTERTAINMENT SENATOR

THE Upper Chamber has witnessed all sorts of political dramas – from Martin Luther King’s kind of enchanting oratory to more furious displays of wiles, street-like in-fighting, subtle power plays, partisan outwitting, and most recently, Dino Melaye’s costume slapstick and the viral ‘Ajekun Iya’ themed war-chant skit. But a new perspective will be added when the newly elected Senator for Osun West, Chief Ademola Adeleke, moves to Abuja.

I have not met this man from Ede, Osun State personally, but aside the political permutation that brought him to public glare, some of us were privy to his liberal lifestyle and passion for creative talent, being an uncle and one of the earliest supporters of the career choice of rave artiste, David Adeleke, aka Davido.

Therefore, it didn’t come as a surprise to me, seeing him in a leaked pre-election dance video, presumed to pose a question mark on his choice as the best man for Osun West Senatorial District. In a way, those who helped to circulate the video did with mischievous intent, bordering on his moral or otherwise sense of decency and maturity to lead, not just because he ‘bared’ it all in that video shot somewhere in America but also because his dance partner is a young lady.

But like Jomo (played by Kenyan actor Peter King) posited in Kunle Afolayan’s ‘The CEO’, “Who defines best…..?” now we know; the Osun people have given their definition of best in the by-election of July 8, 2017 by choosing the free-spirited Adeleke over the perhaps politically prim Mudashiru Husain who hails from Ejigbo Local Government as myself.

Incidentally, his dance partner in the pre-election video dance to Tekno’s ‘Duro’ was his sexy daughter Nikos Adeleke; Davido’s cousin and sister to ‘Cucumber’ crooner B-Red and ‘Dari Jimi’ singer Sina Rambo.

To show that one does not change a winning formula, Adeleke performed a latest dance video in celebration of his victory at the polls.

In a move that appears spiteful of his political opponents, the new Senator deployed his dance skill in a mesmerizing video that had gone viral on social media?

The potpourri of ‘shoki’, ‘etigi’, ‘galala’ and other dance steps all got an icing – dexterity with the pot belly. Who does that!

Ademola Adeleke who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the ‘eve’ of the Osun by-election, contested against Mudashiru Husain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeating the latter in a landslide victory.

But beyond the political undertone which the victory dance may have portrayed, it presented a further understanding of the entertainment gene in the Adeleke family of Ede, Osun State.

It is my wish that Adeleke’s simplicity and regard for creative talent will not only add to the few showbiz-enamored senators to fast-track some of the unattended bills that will reposition the Nigerian art and entertainment industry.

That said, Osun State needs more social life just as Ejigbo, which I also considered being won by Adeleke, also needs to wear the international community face it deserves.

If you don’t bungle this opportunity opportunity, there will be more from where this victory came from, and Isiaka Adeleke can only smile from above.

July 15, 2017
Why I sponsored bill on treatment of gunshot victims, by Senator

SENATOR Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central) has defended her bill authorising medical treatment for gunshot victims.

Mrs. Sunmonu, in a November 2016 Bill, called for authorisation of treatment of such victims in medical institutions.

Before now, such victims were expected to present a police report before accessing medical treatment.

The restriction was aimed at preventing armed robbers, who sustain gunshot wounds from accessing medical treatment.

But this became counter-productive as it led to the death of many innocent Nigerians who were robbed on highways or in their homes.

The Senate deliberated on the vexed issue and eventually directed police to allow such victims to be treated before a report is ready.

With the successful passage of the bill, victims are now allowed to receive medical treatment before a police report clearing them of any offence.

In an April 8 statement, the Oyo State Police Command directed hospitals to treat victims of gunshot wounds before processing a police report.

The development has since saved many lives.

Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, Mrs. Sunmonu argued that many gunshot victims often die since hospitals demand police reports before treating them.

She said if they are treated immediately and their lives are saved, the police may be able to interrogate them and extract more information from them about criminal cartels.

The former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly added that it was not only criminals, who were not being treated but that innocent people, who had been the victims of crime, had also died because they were not treated.

The senator called for a look at the bigger picture, arguing that failure to treat such persons was equivalent to a deprivation of the right to life – a constitutionally enshrined right that can only be removed in execution of a judgment of a superior court.

She called for training of police officers and medical workers to deal with victims and those who help in a non-accusatory manner.

Mrs. Sunmonu said members of the public were often afraid to help victims for fear of being treated like suspects and saddled with responsibility of proving their own innocence just because they rendered help.

She said there was a need to build public confidence in the system.

The lawmaker expressed satisfaction with the police directive, saying she was happy to sponsor a bill that saves lives of many innocent citizens.

June 27, 2017
How to develop Edo North, by Senator

Senate Deputy Chief Whip Francis Alimikhena has identified the absence of infrastructure for industrial activities as the bane of economic development in Edo North District.

Alimikhena, who was speaking at the Igarra Public Field in Akoko-Edo, described Akoko-Edo as a land that is full of untapped natural resources. He promised to attract development.

The senator said: “Edo North is strategically located with networking of road to facilitate movement of goods and people to the North, South East as well as the South -South geo political Zone. We have no justification whatsoever not to benefit from the commercial nature of our district. He explained that his infrastructural development efforts targeted at attracting investors to the area who will take advantage of the industrial sub- structure for the establishment of industry, will soon yield the needed result.”

Alimikhena promised to make Edo North investors’ delight by ensuring necessary development initiative for the private sector to take over its economy. He added: “It is not the duty of government to be in business but to create enabling environment for investors to invest.

“Edo North has energetic working population with a vast arable land crisscrossed by rivers, stream and investment in power transmission and distribution facilities for the smooth and efficient take off of industries. We have fertile land for agricultural product and produced. As we complete the ongoing infrastructural development which will Constitute the basis for industrial sub structure for business activities, we will give attention to youth training and skill acquisition centre to enable us produced the human resources that will be required by industry.”

While thanking Governor Godwin Obaseki for his developmental initiative, he said the governor has not lost focus. He added: He is consistent and we have faith in his ability to Industrialized the entire State. As law makers, we will give him all the necessary support and encouragement to fast track his developmental initiative. Senator Alimikhena who also appealed to the people of Edo North to be patient with the APC Government, expressed confidence that the 2017 budget will Sink the ongoing recession and reposition the nation in record time. Nigeria was brutally destroyed by the opposition party for more than sixteen years and we cannot expect an overnight transformation from the Buhari’s administration. “But i can boldly assured Nigerians that the faithful implementation of this 2017 budget will sink all our hardship, struggle and recession”.

Recounting his achievement in the last two years in the Senate, he outlined Bills that he has sponsored, co-sponsored and his motions. He also outlined key projects, which he has attracted to Edo North in the 2016 budget, with the assurance that the 2017 budget which will soon be ready for implementation is pregnant with more infrastructural projects all across Edo North.

He appealed to beneficiaries to effectively deploy the items given to them, adding that those who are yet to benefit will have their turn in the future.

June 22, 2017
How senator perpetrated N1.5b fraud, by EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that a senator representing Delta North, Peter Nwaoboshi, allegedly defrauded the state of N1.5billion and laundered part of it through a company known as Suiming Nigeria Ltd.

The commission is praying the court not to discharge an interim order made by Justice Abdullazeez Anka forfeiting a 12-storey building allegedly belonging to the senator.

EFCC alleged that he acquired the property with part of the money.

An EFCC operative, Garuba Abubakar, in a counter-affidavit opposing Nwaoboshi’s application, said the former Delta State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got a contract through one of his companies, Bilderberg Enterprises Ltd, to supply new construction equipment to the state Direct Labour Agency at N1,580,000,000.

The company allegedly imported and supplied used construction equipment rather than brand new ones despite receiving full payment.

EFCC said Nwaoboshi, with the proceeds, bought the 12-floor building at 29 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, from Delta State Government at N805million in the name of Golden Touch Construction Projects Ltd.

The commission said the senator had “no visible legitimate business venture to generate the amount spent to purchase the said property”.

According to EFCC, Nwaoboshi has 20 bank accounts which he operates in Nigeria. Companies directly linked to him maintain another 20.

The commission said the interim forfeiture order granted on April 21 was to preserve the property from being dissipated.

“A criminal charge will most likely be preferred against the respondents at the conclusion of investigation. As part of our investigation procedure, the first respondent (Nwaoboshi) will be invited very soon after having assembled all incriminating evidence against him before charging him and others to court,” the deponent said.

EFCC said contrary to the senator’s claim that he sold the property to Suiming Nigeria, the company belongs to him.

“The first respondent is the alter ego of Suiming Nigeria as contained in his Asset Declaration Form. The first respondent controls the affairs of Suiming Nigeria Ltd, the second (Golden Touch Construction) and third (Bilderberg Enterprises) respondents, but deliberately hides his identity.

“The purported transaction between second respondent and Suiming Electricals Ltd is a transaction done by one and same person – the first respondent, which is typical of money laundering scheme. It is in the interest of justice to refuse this application,” EFCC said.

Arguing the application seeking to discharge the forfeiture order, Nwaoboshi’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), said the commission concealed material facts in obtaining the order and did not comply with the EFCC Act, which he said robbed the court of jurisdiction.

Besides, he said the temporary forfeiture violated his client’s right to own property as guaranteed by Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, adding that the suit was an abuse of court process.

“It becomes dangerous for citizens, if the state can seize citizens’ property without a criminal proceeding against them,” he said.

Idigbe said mere suspicion of crime was not a valid reason to attach a property.

“There is nothing linking money from the contract to the property,” Idigbe said.

The SAN said the action was an abuse of court process because there was a pending case at the court’s Asaba division on the same issue.

“The case in Asaba predated this order. They (EFCC) should have disclosed to your lordship the existence of that case,” Idigbe said.

But, EFCC’s lawyer Ekele Iheanacho said the right to own property was not absolute, and that a property could be temporarily forfeited during investigation, even if no charge was filed.

“Arrest is not a condition precedent to forfeiture. The law allows that even though the person has not been arrested, the property can still be attached,” he said.

On abuse of court, the EFCC lawyer said: “The learned SAN created a heavy storm in a teacup on abuse of court process. The case in Asaba is a civil suit brought under the Civil Procedure Rules and with different parties. The proceeding is entirely different from this.

“This proceeding is a quasi-criminal matter. There is evidence of money laundering. He did not supply what he was meant to supply. The first respondent has been using the companies as fronts. All the transactions were done by one and same person.

“We urge the court to reject this application and not to discharge the earlier order made by the court,” Iheanacho prayed.

Justice Anka adjourned till October 4 for ruling.

June 16, 2017
2019: Zoning won’t work in Oyo, says senator

The senator representing Oyo North in the National Assembly, Abdulfatai Buhari, has urged those clamouring for the zoning of the governorship slot ahead of the 2019 election to bury the idea.

The senator from Oke-Ogun said zoning in the state would not work in the present circumstance.

He said the current structure in Oyo State did not support zoning.

Addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, Buhari, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, said any party insisting on zoning would fail.

The senator said it better to allow the best candidate emerge, regardless of where he or she comes from or which political affiliation he or she aligns with, instead of clamouring for zoning.

He said: “The assessment of individual, based on what they can do for the masses, is the key thing. The masses do not care where you come from; all they want is who will bring to their tables three square meals. Oke Ogun and Ogbomoso have 13 local government areas. That is where I represent. You cannot push them aside in the equation of things.

“I will be honest with you: they have great potential. You will be shocked to hear the names of great personalities from the zone. They include a former registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof Dibu Ojerinde. He is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and he is from Ogbooro. Prof Adeniyi is from Oke Ogun. One of the most brilliant lawyers we have in the country today, Ahmed Raji (SAN), is from Oke Ogun. So, there are great people like them.

“Let’s be honest with each other: they’ve got the fair share of brilliance and they are intelligent people. If today you see somebody from that area who has the potential and intellect like the people I have mentioned, who is interested to be governor, they will compete favourably with anybody from other zone.”

Buhari said zoning would not work in Oyo State, adding that any politician clamouring for it was deceiving the people.

The senator said Oyo is a unique state where people play serious politics without emotion and sympathy.

He said: “Again, if you look at the state of things in Oyo State, Ibadan has done it, Ogbomoso has also done it. And we have five zones. It is only Ibarapa, Oyo and Oke Ogun that are yet to produce a governor. “

June 7, 2017
Kogi West poll: Senator demands probe of judge, Melaye

Senator Smart Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West for two terms, yesterday demanded a probe of the alleged telephone conversation between Justice Akon Ikpeme and Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) – his successor.

Adeyemi said he sensed a foul play in the way his election petition was struck out by Justice Ikpeme-led Election Petition Tribunal.

Adeyemi, who made the demands at a briefing in Abuja, pleaded with the Chief Justice of the Federation and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe the alleged audio tape of the conversation.

He said: “I hereby call for a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities – that is, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Judicial Council( NJC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission( ICPC) and the Directorate for State Security Service( DSS).

“Like I mentioned earlier, I am of the opinion that we have people of high integrity in the Judiciary. However, just like there is a Judas in every 12, some people of questionable character may want to infiltrate the ranks of our incorruptible judges and ministers in the hallowed temple of Justice.

“I hold the view that members of the Justice Akon Ikpeme-led panel have the burden to come out and prove their innocence to the world, especially as touching on the recent leaked telephone conversation between Justice Ikpeme and a litigant in her tribunal in the person of Dino Melaye. Nigerians are watching and waiting.”

He added: “I am not in doubt that money and other extraneous unethical considerations played an active role in the various rulings of the Justice Ikpeme-led panel in favour of Dino Melaye. If my brother Dino denies the audio clip, let him look at the mirror before him, the person will appear. For two years, I kept praying to God to make a show of shame of all conspirators against me at the tribunal. By the power of God, more revelations will still come!”

Adeyemi said he was demanding for the probe to avert a recurrence of abuse of the judicial process in the future.

He added: “Whether the audio recording was genuine or not. Let the communication firms be involved to track this conversation. We need forensic experts to get to the roots of this alleged bribe saga.

“For two years, I kept mute because I had no evidence to prove but I know God will intervene and expose those behind the electoral fraud in Kogi West Senatorial District. The release of the audio clip has shown that a lot went wrong.

“The redress is to make sure that tomorrow nobody will be thinking of bribing a judge. It is not about winning this case; it is about helping Nigerian judiciary. If this thing can happen to me as a senator, what is the hope for the common man.”

Asked if the judiciary decided not to probe the audio tape, Adeyemi said: “I have the assurance of God that we have not heard the last word. I know there will be more revelations.

“You don’t have to be a judge to know that the results have been tampered. Can any judge accept mutilated results? I swallowed the bitter.

“Though, we know that there is an end to litigation and this particular petition has been decided one way or the other yet, the following are pertinent factual and moral records of what transpired at the tribunal, which are now questions for Justice Ikpeme and her team to answer, in order to erase the misconception (if any) of corruption, which hovers around them and to save the image and integrity of the judiciary.

“The tribunal ordered a recount of the ballot papers and it was discovered that 2500 void votes were counted for Dino Melaye to be declared winner of the election. Why was no action taken on this finding?

“That there were mutilation /cancellation on the faces of all the results sheets delivered by INEC.

“That there are many wards of the senatorial district, whose results the INEC officials deliberately refused to collate and enter on the final result sheet. These wards are spread across the four local government areas of Kabba-Bunu Local Government, Ijumu Local Government, Kogi Local Government and Lokoja Local Government.

“That the Justice Ikpeme-led panel accepted a sheet of paper, as report of primaries in the face of an authentic report of primaries brought and tendered during the hearing of the petition by INEC officials.

“That Justice Ikpeme gave probative value to a sheet of paper as reports of primaries tendered by a youth corps member allegedly coming from INEC office Abuja without an identity card.”

But Melaye had also said he won his election in a free and fair manner and will defeat Adeyemi any day.

He said: “This is not a matter of boast, I have defeated him and I will also defeat him, even if election is conducted 100 times, provided the election is free and fair.”

One of Melaye’s ardent supporters said Adeyemi was chasing shadows.

He said: “Adeyemi lost to Melaye because he failed to follow due process in pursuing his petition.

“Justice Ikpeme said Adeyemi ran foul of the Electoral Act in filing reply to the 1st respondent’s response out of time

“Ikpeme also held that for failing to apply for Form TF001 for pre-hearing session within the stipulated seven days, the tribunal was of the view that the petitioner had failed to apply for the issuance of the form.

“She said pursuance of other issues relating to Adeyemi’s petition could only amount to ‘mere academic exercise’.”

June 5, 2017
Police threaten senator over murder document

Did the police cart away Budget 2017 documents from the home of a senator?

That remained a knotty question yesterday.

The police denied that they took such documents during a raid on the Abuja home of Senator Danjuma Goje. The Senate said they did and that the budget could be delayed for that reason.

But, said the Senate yesterday in a statement, less than 24 hours after it demanded the immediate return of the documents, the police had complied with its directive.

Senate President Bukola Saraki’s office said the police returned all the documents, cash and laptop they took away from the house of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation.

Goje had, on Wednesday, told the Senate that policemen who raided his house on April 20 took away budget documents.

The Gombe Central lawmaker said besides 18 files, the police also took away his personal laptop where information on the budget was stored.

He said that N18 million, $19,000 and 4,000 Saudi Riyals were also taken away from his house by the police raiders.

The Senate resolved to ask the police to return the documents.

The Senate President also demanded an explanation of what informed the raid and an unreserved apology.

He constituted a seven-man committee to unravel the circumstances that led to the raid.

The Special Assistant to the Senate President on New Media, Bankole Omisore, said the police returned everything they took.

He said that the police claimed that they acted on wrong information by a whistle-blower.

Omisore twitted: “Nigerian police this morning returned every thing they took from Senator Goje’s house, including cash and documents relating to the 2017 Budget.

”They claim the raid was based on wrong information from a whistleblower.”

Also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, in a statement entitled: “Resolution of issues: Re-Nigerian Police Force and Senator Danjuma Goje”, confirmed the items taken away from Goje’s home by the police have been returned.

A source close to Goje told our reporter that a deputy commissioner of police and some plain clothe officers returned the items early yesterday.

The police said the search warrant executed in Goje’s home had nothing to do with the budget.

The police searched Goje’s 10, Haile Salasie Street, Asokoro District, Abuja home, following an intelligence report.

Force spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja, said the report that budget documents were taken away was false, misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians.

He said that the search warrant was professionally executed.

”It is pertinent to set the record straight and inform Nigerians on the facts of the matter,”he said.

He said that on arrival of the Police team at Goje’s house, the house keeper, Ango Usman, informed him of the presence and mission of the team and he promised to come but later switched off his phone.

”The search warrant was successfully executed in the presence of three close relatives of Goje who reside in the house and the recoveries were made in their presence,”he said.

The relatives are: Danjuma Mohammed, Ango Usman, house keeper to Goje and Aisha Umar, a step daughter to Goje.

He said that the relatives opened the house, took the police team round the building, and endorsed their signatures after the completion of the search as required by law.

He said the items on the search warrant contained the money, documents and laptop recovered, and that none of the items included the budget document.

Moshood said the items recovered include: N18 million; 19,850 US dollars; 9, 400 Saudi Riyals; 38 files and six envelopes containing documents; file on funds spent on security administration and information gathering in 2009.

Others are: file on release of fund for special operations in 2009;file on Gombe State Government cash inflow, 2005; file on Project 2007 and executive briefs on how to fight opposition in Gombe State, Strategies and tactics.

He said there were also envelopes containing permit to operate as an oil industry service company (special categories) 2011; file containing write-ups on how a former governor plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru and letters from Mohammed Goje to the MD, LUBELL Nigeria Ltd. of proposed residential development at Kashere Phase II dated Jan. 1, 2007 and Nov.19, 2010.

The spokesman said that there was no document relating to the 2017 Budget sighted or removed by the Pplice team.

He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, honoured the invitation of the National Assembly to explain the legality of the search warrant in Goje’s house.

Moshood said that further investigation was ongoing into the matter, adding that police actions were in line with the provisions of Sec. 4 and 28 of the Police Act and Regulations.

”The Nigeria Police Force sees the report in the media credited to Sen. Danjuma Goje as a deliberate distraction to cast aspersion on police investigation to pervert the end of justice,”he said.

He implored the public to disregard the report as the search warrant was professionally executed.

April 28, 2017