Senate petitioned over appropriation committee chairman’s budget allocations

The Transparency and Accountability Network has urged anti-corruption authorities to invite Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun) to address questions and petitions regarding recent federal budget allocations.

Mr Adeola, representing Ogun West senatorial district, chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation in the 10th Senate. The appeal came in a statement by the president of TAN, Oluwole Oladapo, released in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Oladapo asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to examine the concerns raised in the public petition.

In September 2026, the Coalition of Civil Society in Nigeria, in a petition signed by Buna Olaitan and Wyseman Ajayi to the ICPC, demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2026 Federal Appropriation process.

The Pan African Society for Social & Economic Change (PASSEC), in a petition with a batch of documents to the ICPC, alleged that the lawmaker misused his legislative office to insert over N1 trillion to N1.8 trillion worth of untraceable or phantom projects into federal budgets between 2023 and 2026.

Mr Oladapo said in view of these petitions, TAN wants the ICPC and the EFCC to investigate the lawmaker over the series of allegations hanging on his neck, especially the alleged appropriations and project scandals that have triggered deeper economic pains for Nigerians even after fuel subsidy removal.

According to him, until he clears his name, the lawmaker has no business contesting any elective position in 2027 or in the future.

“Nigeria is too big to allow such scandals to be swept under the carpet without security agencies inviting the senator for a proper and comprehensive investigation,” he said.

The TAN president restated that reviewing public petitions concerning legislative oversight between 2023 and 2026 would help resolve ongoing discussions about the appropriations processes.

”Examining these matters is essential for maintaining public trust and ensuring openness as political stakeholders prepare for the upcoming 2027 elections,” he said.

He noted that public interest has steadily grown in how annual budgets are managed and implemented across various federal sectors.

“It appears that the petition by PASSEC submitted to ICPC over alleged irregularities in federal budgets between 2023 and 2026 has been left unattended or investigations into the weighty allegations have been compromised,” he said.

Mr Oladapo also noted that various civic organisations had previously submitted petitions highlighting questions over project tracking and statutory mandates within the National Assembly.

He emphasised that by inviting the lawmaker to provide official clarification on these oversight records, relevant security and anti-graft bodies could help clear up ambiguities and address public interest transparently.

They said the smooth functioning of democratic institutions relies on open communication between public officeholders and regulatory bodies.

(NAN)