Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of presiding over what he described as the alteration and forging of laws, warning that the development poses a serious danger to Nigeria’s constitutional order and public confidence in governance.
In a statement titled “Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws”, shared on his official X handle on Saturday, Obi alleged that there are clear differences between laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later published and implemented by the executive arm of government.
The former Anambra State governor said the matter goes far beyond administrative mistakes, describing it as a grave constitutional violation that exposes deep-rooted institutional weaknesses in the country.
According to him, Nigeria appears to have moved from an era of budget padding to a more troubling phase where laws are allegedly altered after legislative approval, with serious implications for taxpayers’ rights and access to justice.
Obi also criticised the Presidency for failing to respond to the allegations, stressing that the issues raised point to possible forgery, abuse of process and institutional sabotage.
Obi said: “Our national embarrassment continues to unfold through the actions and decisions of those in leadership, even at the highest levels.
“What we are witnessing is not a simple oversight but documented discrepancies between what the legislature approved and what was eventually presented as law by the executive.”
He warned that such practices strike at the heart of constitutional governance and erode trust in public institutions.
Obi further raised concerns over what he described as newly introduced enforcement powers that were never approved by the House of Representatives.
These, he said, include a requirement for a compulsory 20 per cent deposit before appeals can be heard in court, the sale of assets without judicial oversight, and the granting of arrest powers to tax authorities.
“Even more troubling is the silence of the Presidency on allegations involving forgery and abuse of process,” he added.
The former governor warned that public trust in government would continue to collapse if citizens are asked to bear heavier tax burdens while transparency and accountability remain absent.
He called for leadership that respects due process, upholds the rule of law and ensures openness in governance, insisting that no nation can prosper where laws are manipulated and accountability is ignored.
