The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has concluded plans to probe Federal lawmakers over non-execution of constituency projects for which funds were allocated for in the 2014 and 2015 budgets.
This followed allegations raised by former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, his Deputy, Yussuff Lasun; Minority Leader, Leo Ogor and other members of the lower legislative chamber, saying they allegedly inserted over N40bn into the 2016 budget.
Jibrin, who had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, also claimed that the principal officers demanded an inclusion of other projects in sum ranging from N20bn to N30bn.
Disclosing Government’s decision, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, revealed that security agencies were currently compiling constituency projects with sums totalling N200bn for the two years, Punch reports.
Malami was quoted as saying, “The money for constituency projects had been taken, but certain allegations prevailed that some constituency projects were not executed after the money had been paid 100 per cent.
“If money is appropriated in the budget, paid and the projects the funds were meant for were not executed, it is only natural to take steps to find out what happened. If neither the money nor the project can be produced, then you must take steps in accordance with the law.
“There are cases that are specific; we are compiling them. I will not want to pre-empt investigation, we have to allow investigation to be concluded before we go public.”
Comments