Buhari To Probe Constituency Projects, Budget Padding From 1999 Till Date

The Federal Government reacted yesterday to the budget padding row in the House of Representatives, promising to probe the allegation and other related cases over the years.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the government would “take action” based on the probe outcome, The NATION reports.


This indicates that the probe may be extended to the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Malami also said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would probe executive and legislative conspiracy on constituency projects.

But former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Abdulmumin Jibrin yesterday lashed out at Speaker Yakubu Dogara for saying that padding is not an offence.

Malami, who spoke with The NATION, said the government’s action on padding would lead to the blocking of fraudulent leakages.

He said: “We will investigate the executive and legislative conspiracy as it relates to constituency projects with a view to measuring the art of execution of the padded projects over the years

“In so doing, we will learn our lessons in the budget and its implementation as a law with the aim to prosecute infractions and block leakages inherent in the padding process.

“Action must naturally be taken in the interest of the nation for efficient utilisation of our commonwealth and blocking of fraudulent leakages.”

There were also indications yesterday that the government may resist pressure to dump the investigation of Jibrin’s petition against Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor others for the alleged padding. 

Culled from The NATION