Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor has said he turned down the invitation of the EFCC over budget padding because it did not write through the leadership of the House.

While speaking on Monday, Ogor said the EFCC also informed the public that he has been invited, instead of charging him to court if any evidence was found.

He said, “The issues they are investigating are non-issues. They are busy conducting trial by media and will later have to apologise to me.

“They sent me an invitation, which I said they should follow the right procedure of reaching me.

“In line with the EFCC Act, they will also have to update me with the economic crime I committed before they started the media trial.

“You can’t rush to the media when you are conducting an investigation that you have no evidence. That is why their cases collapse like a pack of cards in the courts.”

Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa said no principal officer had received any invitation from the EFCC in connection with budget padding.

He stated, “I am right now out of the country. In fact, in Saudi Arabia for my Lesser Hajj, but I can confirm to you that up till today, Monday, 19th of June, I have not received any letter of such and my aides working in my constituency office have not either.

“But I will want to add that letter or no letter, it appears the EFCC under its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, may want to use the anti-graft machinery to unlawfully intimidate or coerce the legislative arm of government.

“We will, however, continue to exercise our constitutional mandate as lawmakers without any fear of the EFCC’s threats. We shall remain focused and will never be distracted in our commitment to serve our constituents and to strengthen parliamentary democracy in our dear country, Nigeria.

“I can tell you that none of us has received any letter from the EFCC regarding budget or Jibrin.

“The anti-graft crusade as envisaged by President Muhammadu Buhari was never meant to serve as an instrument of vendetta or to undermine the rule of law as is the case now.”