The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Senate leadership of hindering an investigation into the N3.7 trillion allegedly added to the 2024 budget.

The PDP said the Senate leadership has been using diversionary press statements to suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged budget padding, stressing that Senate President Godswill Akpabio should resign to allow a credible investigation, “as he cannot be a judge in this matter”.

The opposition party said these in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Ologunagba noted: “The PDP asserts that from the incoherent, knee-jerk and dismissive statement issued by the APC leadership in the Senate on Thursday, March 14, 2024, it is clear that it is jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation will further expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers.

“The press statement further confirms the presence of an APC budget cabal in the Senate and that the Senator Akpabio-led APC leadership is insensitive and does not care about the welfare of the Nigerian people.

‘Outright fraud’: Atiku calls for N3.7trn budget padding probe

“It is highly provocative that at this time when Nigerians are passing through severe economic hardship, the APC leadership in the Senate is busy defending and frustrating investigation into allegation of massive manipulation and looting of resources meant for the wellbeing of the citizens.

“The Akpabio-led APC leadership in the Senate ought to know that no amount of threats, harassment, suspension of whistleblowers and attempts to blackmail the opposition through diversionary press statements and sponsored articles in a section of the media can suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged budget padding which is already in the public domain.

“The PDP and Nigerians are however not deterred by attacks by the APC leadership in the Senate which is a clear case of corruption fighting back in the face of public scrutiny.”

He stated that the failure by the Akpabio-led Senate leadership to allow an investigation into the budget padding allegation constituted a huge smear on the image of the upper chamber of the National Assembly and destroyed its rectitude and integrity to perform its constitutional duty to investigate and oversight other public institutions.

“If Senator Akpabio has nothing to fear, he should immediately recall Senator Abdul Ningi and allow for an open and detailed investigation into the allegation of discrete insertion of N3.7 trillion into the 2024 budget,” the PDP spokesman added.

Ologunagba, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to restore the integrity of the 2024 budget by immediately ordering an open investigation into the alleged insertion as well as a holistic review of the budget.

“Furthermore, the PDP stands by its demand that Senator Akpabio should report at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an investigation into the alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State and the N86 billion alleged contract scam under his watch as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, respectively,” Ologunagba said.

The Star