Northern Leaders, SERAP Demand Investigation of Ningi’s N3.7trn Budget Padding Allegation

The Northern leaders of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP have condemned the suspension of the Senator representing Bauchi Central at the National Assembly, Abdul Ningi, over his N3.7 trillion budget padding allegation.

According to the ACF’s spokesman, Prof. Tukur Muhammed-Baba, the suspension is “unacceptable without a thorough investigation of the corruption allegations in the component of the 2024 budget,” hence the demand for investigation.

Sweeping the issue under the carpet could endanger the nation’s democracy, he stated.

Following the allegations, SERAP urged the 10th Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to forward the allegations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for proper investigation and prosecution if and when the alleged is found guilty. At the same time, the group also pleaded with the Senate to reinstate the whistleblower, Senator Ningi.

What Senator Ningi has done is a positive act of good citizenship. No whistleblower should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure, says SERAP.

The human rights group stated, “Without insider information, corruption is hard to detect, prevent and combat. Rather than suspending Senator Ningi, the Senator ought to have used his allegation as a trigger for addressing the lingering problem of budget padding and corruption in the implementation of constituency projects.”

SERAP further argued that “Referring the allegation to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the senate to ensure probity and accountability in the budget process.”

Meanwhile, the Senate President has yet to lift the burden of proof regarding Ningi’s allegation of an additional 3.7 trillion assigned to no known projects or locations.

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