A coalition of over 30 Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, on Monday took to the streets of Lagos to protest against the lingering controversy over budget padding in the lower chambers of the National Assembly, saying it was time the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigate and prosecute those found wanting in the budget padding saga.
The protesters brandished placards such as, “EFCC probe NASS illegal allowances, , “No immunity for economic criminality probe budget padding,” “Save Nigeria from legislative thieves,” ” Support war against corruption probe budget padding, ” “Our parents get poverty wages and lawmakers get over paid,” among others.
They said the 10 principal members of the House of Representatives fingered in the budget padding ought not to be walking freely on the streets of the country.
Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, who spoke on behalf of the groups before delivering their petition to EFCC officials in Lagos said principal officers in the House of Representatives like the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who superintended over the budget padding must the arrested because he is not above the law.
“He has no immunity. If governor’s accounts are being frozen, I don’t know why Speaker Dogara’s account should be left free. I don’t know why a Jibrin, a Femi Gbajabiamila, a Leo Ogor and Ado Dogo should be walking free on the land of this country?
“These characters must be brought to book. This is a national movement that is going to move to every corner of the country to make sure that the right thing is done. It is on this note that I present this petition on behalf of over 30 civil society organizations, on behalf of tax payers who have no voice, to you to please take action on this because Nigerian people are suffering. These few people cannot continue to retrogress this nation,” he said.
The EFCC Deputy Director, Operations, Lagos Office, Iliyasu Kwarbai said, “We are very happy that you are here and we are in solidarity with you. We are very happy that you are joining us in the fight against corruption. As I have said earlier on, the fight is not for EFCC alone, it is for everybody and when we saw you coming here in protest, trying to submit petition, we are very happy.”
He said the EFCC had already received numerous petitions on the issue of padding in the National Assembly in which some allegation had been raised against the Speaker and some other persons.
“We are already in receipt of petitions from some other members of the public and the investigation is being done in Abuja. When petitions are received, we look at them, make some analyses, and commence investigation.
“We do what we call preliminary investigation without inviting the accused persons. We carry out some investigations, gathered some facts to ascertain the truthfulness of that petition. When we find them indicted, then we go into inviting the accused person.
“What we are doing is to look at the present since we have already received some of the petitions, our men are already on ground, carrying out very thorough investigations. So don’t be in doubt, EFCC cannot be cowed, anybody involved in corruption, no matter how highly placed, we don’t cover any person at all,” he stated.
