The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started investigations into how the 2014 and 2015 budgetary allocations of the National Assembly were spent.

The anti-graft agency on Friday requested details of the budgets, including contracts to the tune of N300billion, from the National Assembly Clerk, Sani Omolori.

It was also learnt that some principal officers of the present, and immediate former National Assembly will be invited for questioning.

The former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin had made allegation that the 2016 budget was padded with foreign projects but the EFCC has extended its investigations to 2014 and 2015.

A source told Punch, “You know the National Assembly has never made its budget public. Besides Jibrin’s petitions, there are others that will make investigations into the 2014 and 2015 budgets inevitable.”

When contacted on Friday, both Saraki and Ekweremadu said they were not aware of any invitation from the EFCC or intention to invite them.

The Special Adviser to the Senate President (Media and Publicity), Yusuf Olaniyonu said, “No such thing. The Senate is on recess. We do not have any inkling about any such probe or invitation. In any case, remember that he became Senate President on June 9, 2015. So, if they are talking of 2014 and 2015, I don’t think that (the probe) will concern him.”

The Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, said the executive will only be meddling into the affairs of the legislature through the probe.

Sani said, “The anti-corruption agencies are showing more interest in allegations against members of the National Assembly than against members of the executive and the judiciary. And the discriminatory responses of the anti-corruption agencies are an ill wind that will blow no one any good. It simply discredits the agencies as well as raise suspicions on their activities.

“The National Assembly is not immune to the law that is applicable to anybody in this country but the anti-corruption agencies must respect the independence of the legislature and seek an informed opinion whenever they are delving into issues that concern the legislature because they are still seen as part of the executive. They must know that any of their actions, naturally, will be interpreted as a calculated attempt to undermine the activities of the National Assembly.”

Azeez