By Sadiq Umar – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations of the the senate over allegations of padding of 2016 budget in the National Assembly, following shocking revelation that a suspicious N3billion was added to the votes of the ministry of Science and Technology in the 2061 budget.
Former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Jibrin Abdulmumin had last week made shocking revelations of how the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers padded the 2016 budget to the tune of several billions of naira for pecuniary gain.
Also, a member of the Transparency Group in the House of Representatives, Muhammadu Bala Farouk (APC-Niger) had accused the Senate of being accomplice in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget.
Farouk who raised the fresh alarm, alleged that over N40 billion is diverted yearly since 1999, adding that the fraudulent practices were perpetuated in conjunction with officials of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Security sources hinted that following allegations of corruptions buffeting the House, it was discovered that the Senate is complicit, hence the secret probe of some senators.
“The senate Appropriation committee is equally involved in padding, both chambers worked on the same budget, even though most of the paper work was done by Jibrin.”
The source told News Investigators that although the investigation of senate’s involvement in budget padding might be at the preliminary stage, the Senate Appropriation chairman certainly has some questions to answer,” the source added.
It was gathered that, prior to the revelations in the House of Representatives, the Presidency had been worried about the padding issue having received some security reports to that effect, but was in a dilemma on how to approach the issue without stoking Executive-Legislature crisis.
That, it was further learnt, informed the earlier outburst by Secretary to Government of Federation, Lawal Babachair who disclosed that government will not execute any constituency projects in the 2016 budget.
A credible security source revealed that the anti-graft agency is probing into how the Senate Chairman of Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje allegedly padded N3billion into the budget of ministry of Science and Technology, N1billion in ministry of Labour, unspecified amount in National Border Community Commission.
The source added that security agencies are also working tirelessly to unravel other areas of padding by some other lawmakers.
Spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the investigations but declined to comment further.
“l can say yes, because petitions have been submitted, but at this stage, we do not have much to report,” Mr. Uwujaren told News Investigators.
Efforts to speak to Senator Danjuma Goje on the allegations proved abortive, as he neither pick our calls nor respond to questions sent.
It would be recalled that Senator Babajide Omoworare said it is a fact that federal lawmakers do tinker with budgets to suit their selfish interests.
According to Omoworare, a National Assembly Budget Research Office should be created as a solution to stop this malaise.
Also Farouk had said,”Some months ago, I spoke with a correspondent of the VOA on the issue of N100 billion that is always in our budget for constituency projects and this N100 billion I discovered over N40 billion is diverted every year in the last 16 years. So, with this issue now, God has just answered the prayer of Nigerians.
“Abdulmumin, to me, God has answered the prayers of Nigerians by opening their “yanshi” for Nigerians to know the skeleton they have in their cupboards. So, the issue of padding is just a simple way of saying legislative robbery, legislative stealing in collaboration with executives from our various MDAs. So, there is padding in our budget, which is illegal, unconstitutional, criminal, a lot of illegalities.
“Yes, it is Jibrin’s sack that has brought about these, and that was why I said that they are all birds of the same feather. But this revelation is very good for Nigeria. So today Abdulmumin doesn’t want to sink today alone,” he said.
While explaining the role played by the Senate in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget, Farouk alleged that “even in the Senate, they are all part of this padding mess we are talking about.
“Some of us from the Transparency Group met with Dogara on this issue and we told him we are in a change era so he should try and stop this idea of padding the budget, we advised him and he gave us assurance that he will ensure that padding in eliminated in our budget process, but he didn’t.
“So, we are also praying that the APC should not allow itself to be rubbished by this because in the past, the PDP. So since the APC was elected on the crest of change by the people, it should allow the law to take its course.
“We had this padding with Obasanjo, Late Yar’Adua and Jonathan. What I’m telling you is what they do is just insert these projects but the projects will not be executed but they will collaborate with MDAs and contractors and siphon these monies into their pockets.
“For instance, you can put ten projects in your constituency but only two may see the light of day. The remaining eight will siphoned into private pockets of lawmakers in collaboration with officials of MDAs. This has been happening over the years.
“Yes, it is a fact that he reacted because he was removed as chair of appropriation, but even at that, he was removed because he didn’t support the immunity amendment clause. He opposed them outrightly on the floor and since then, they swore to deal with him until he was removed. When he was removed, he also boasted that he must bounce back because he has all their dirty details.
“What speaker is saying in untrue. What the House spokesman, Namdas is saying is a lie and he should not divert the attention of Nigerians saying that Jibrin is attacking the institution of the National Assembly. His issue is the leadership because they are the main culprits in this allegations. So, what Dogara is saying is a lie.
“I’m not supporting Jibrin; I’m neither with Abdulmumin or Dogara; I’m for Nigerians. What we are saying is Nigerians should rise up at this time of change and fight budget padding and corruption in National Assembly. If we don’t do it now, we may never get it right. Even if our own mentor, Gbajabiamila is found wanting he should be investigated and prosecuted. Let the law takes its course. ”
