Kano Senator Demands Senate Probe into N1.3bn Budget Controversy

Kano Senator Kawu Sumaila has called for a Senate inquest into a controversial N1.3 billion budget allocation associated with a purported presidential foreign intervention council. He expressed dissatisfaction with the current investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), insisting that the Senate should conduct its own investigation.

Sumaila spoke to journalists shortly after a Senate plenary session where a request for an independent legislative investigation was rejected. He emphasized the constitutional responsibility of the legislature to oversee budgetary allocations and raised concerns about the establishment of an agency without the approval of the National Assembly.

Despite President Bola Tinubu's directive for the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter, the Senate opted to await the outcome of this probe. Sumaila argued that the Senate's decision does not preclude further scrutiny of the budget insertions, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in the budgetary process.