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The Senate has queried the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for unapproved expenditure of up to N2billion.

The Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes made the query on Monday when the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, appeared to defend the commission’s 2017 budget proposal.

The committee was stunned when Magu told the members that his agency had approached and secured the sum of N1.8 billion from Presidency from the Service Wide Vote without legislative approval.

He said the agency also drew another N200m as special intervention from the Service Wide Vote at the sole prerogative of the Presidency to buy vehicles.

Chairman of the Committee, Chukwuka Utazi was furious at EFCC for keeping lawmakers in the dark on its access to the special fund, accusing both the Presidency and the commission of abusing the process of drawing monies from the said vote.

“You have one year to plan your budget and half-way you run to the Presidency because you have unfettered access. It is totally wrong and the committee would not tolerate it”, he said.

Utazi said his committee would ensure that the matter is taken up and would make its displeasure known in writing to the Presidency.

Mr. Magu had however explained that the N1.8 billon was meant to settle salaries for 750 new cadets recruited into the service and that the additional N200m was for increase in the purchase of operational vehicles.

The EFCC presented a budget proposal of N17.2 billion for 2017, representing 8.5% decrease from that of 2016.

The committee also demanded details of all recoveries made by the agency till date.

SOURCE: ORDER PAPER TODAY