The Federal Government has asked its agents to search for credible evidence of criminal manipulation of the budget.
This is coming following claims by former House Appropriation Chairman, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, that Speaker Yakubu Dogara “padded” the 2016 budget.
The Federal Government is reportedly in search of evidence that would make it difficult for any of the key suspects to escape prosecution.
The Vanguard reports that the Federal Government is to promptly charge the major suspects to court as it did to the Senate President when he was accused of not properly declaring his assets.
“It is true they will give Dogara the Saraki treatment, especially for telling the whole world that padding is legal within the Nigerian law and that nobody can try him for the offence,” a source familiar with the matter said.
“It is the court that will determine whether it is right for anyone to insert a project that was not contemplated by the Executive that has the right to propose budget and move the money to certain agency of government, with a view to drawing it for personal gain,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Jibrin has deepened the budget padding allegation by linking Senator Iyiola Omisore to the matter.