Step Aside, Allow Proper Investigation Into Budget Padding Allegations, PDP Tells Akpabio

Senator Abdul Ningi’s party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, stated that the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, should step aside and allow for an independent investigation into the allegation that N3.7 trillion was discreetly inserted into the 2024 budget for alleged non-existent projects.

The party also demanded that Akpabio should report at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the pending case of alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State under his watch as governor of the state.

In a statement by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party also said the senate president should speak out on the reported N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

PDP condemned Ningi’s suspension by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the senate without a detailed inquest into the issue of budget padding, which he raised.

“The suspension of Senator Ningi is apparently a desperate move to suppress investigation, conceal and sweep the facts under the carpet,” Ologunagba said.

PDP added, “The frustration of investigation by the APC senate leadership further confirms PDP’s repeated alert that prominent APC officials in the National Assembly and a top official in the presidency have been using ministers and other government functionaries to siphon budgeted funds from the national coffers.

“We ask, why did the APC leadership in the senate not refer the matter to the appropriate senate standing committee for an open investigation in line with the extant rules of the senate? What is the APC senate leadership afraid of and what is it hiding from Nigerians?”

The PDP spokesperson also said, “It is even more absurd that instead of recusing himself, the senate president sat as a judge in the matter; a situation that has the capacity to bring the institution of the senate to further public disrepute.

“This is especially as the issues at hand heavily border on alleged gross misconduct and criminal betrayal of public trust, which are serious offenses under our laws.

“Nigerians can now see why the APC leadership in the National Assembly, especially in the senate, continues to condone the unbridled looting of public resources, including funds meant for palliatives for poor and vulnerable citizens.”

 Chuks Okocha, Kasim Sumaina and Segun Awofadeji

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