EFCC begins probe into budget padding allegations, assets declaration

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started investigating assets declared by about 65 people, mostly members of the National Assembly, Punch reports.

It was gathered that some directors of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government are also among those being investigated.

Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Sam Saba, said the anti-graft agency has requested for the assets declaration forms of the suspects.

“Most, if not all, have already been sent,” he said.

He added, “The forms did not have to be for specific years. They said they needed the forms for the officers whom they sent their names and there were 65 of them.

“The total number, including public officers and some legislators, was 65 in all.”

It was gathered that the investigations into the asset declaration of the lawmakers was necessary following the accusations made by former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations that Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers padded the 2016 budget to the tune of  N40bn.

The three others included Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, said the lawmakers were aware and would not stop the EFCC from performing its functions.

Namdas stated, “The CCB is constitutionally recognised and it is doing its work. Members too are aware of this and they complied with every provision of the law when they filled their asset (declaration) forms.

“So, they have nothing to worry about, neither should they have sleepless nights.

“But it must be clarified that the CCB cannot investigate budget padding; it can talk about the assets of members.

“If the EFCC says it is investigating budget padding, whatever that means, the House will not interfere; it should know its job and I believe it is doing its work.”

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