FG moves to investigate alleged budget padding by House of Reps members

The Federal government is set to begin investigations into the allegations of budget padding leveled against the House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three others by sacked Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Jibrin who was replaced by Dogara on July 20th, has released several statements accusing Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor; of introducing over N400 billion fictitious constituency projects into the 2016 budget.

According to Vanguard, the presidency has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to set up an investigation panel into the matter.

The Office of the AGF has engaged a senior police officer to carry out the probe and come back with a report within a short time for necessary disciplinary action, including criminal prosecution to take place.

The top police officer, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, described as a no-nonsense police spy, is reported to have started his investigation by secretly holding series of meetings with some officials of the National Assembly.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, while confirming the setting up of a probe team, said the panel would determine the criminal roles played by those involved in the budget padding and how much money was hidden away and the agencies of government involved in the budget scam.