Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa) has called for a forensic audit of budgetary allocations to the National Assembly.
Adamu made the call while speaking with journalists in Abuja, on Sunday.
He said the call became necessary in view of the refusal of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, to step down after defecting from the All Progressives Congress to join the Peoples Democratic Party.
Abdullah told reporters that Saraki’s insistence on retaining his seat after defecting from the ruling party was evidence that he had something to hide.
The lawmaker said, “I call for a forensic audit of the finances of the Parliament which has been thoroughly messed up under the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
“We do not know what Saraki’s agenda is. As we go through this tenure of his, the more we see things being unearthed.
“For him to refuse to move or leave the chair; there must be a reason for it. As the Chairman of the National Assembly, there is so much that he is doing that we want to take a look at.”
Responding to a question on the call by the leadership of the APC for Saraki to vacate his seat, Adamu said, “It is pretty obvious that Saraki’s influence has diminished completely.
“Because he has lost the respect and confidence of majority of senators and well-meaning Nigerians, he’s just latching on to that seat because of the privileges he enjoys.”
On who succeeds Saraki, should he decide to leave, the former Nasarawa State governor said, “You do not cross a bridge before you get to it.
He said the party’s string of victories in recently-concluded by-elections was a validation of the party’s acceptance among Nigerians.
Attempts to get a response from the office of the Senate President were unsuccessful.
Calls to the mobile telephone number of his Special Adviser (Media), Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu, indicated that it was switched off. A response to a text message sent to him on the subject was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report (9:39pm).
