Dogara Says Padding Is Not An Offence, Falana, Afenifere, Others React

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According to Dogara, he has never heard that ‘padding’ is an offence under any law and he’s totally not bothered, or worried.Mr Dogara made the statement after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

Talks at the meeting were believed to be largely focused on the budget padding scandal rocking the lower legislative chamber.

It came a day after the ruling All Progressives Congress asked the Speaker to stop further public comments on the budget padding issue that had triggered diverse views, ChannelsNews reports.

It is criminal—Falana, Afenifere, others         

Condemning the Speaker, a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), insisted that the alleged padding of the Federal Government’s budget by some members of the National Assembly constituted a criminal offence.

He explained that the offence of padding the budget was not a “once-and-for-all” like murder.

The senior lawyer said it started as conspiracy while planning it and concluded when it was used to draw money fraudulently after the budget had been passed.

Falana had also said that it was logical for those implicated in the scam to step down because Jibrin had done the same.

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke said the appropriate thing for the Speaker to do is to resign first and face investigation.