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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over his claim that the 2024 Budget was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion.
Ningi, representing Bauchi Central is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Senate Committee on Population.
While some senators called for probe into the allegation, some northern senators disowned the claims made by Ningi, saying he did not speak for them.
Ningi, however, maintained his position that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget while speaking on the floor of senate on Monday.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) raised a motion of urgent importance, saying te senate need to address the false allegation by Ningi.
Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor of the Red Chamber and moved three prayers. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, immediately called for a committee of the whole senate.
Contributing , Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), moved a motion for the suspension of Ningi for 12 months, adding that a letter of warning should be sent to Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South, NNPP).
However Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River South) opposed this by moving a motion of amendment that the suspension be reduced to six months.
Senators Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North) and Garba Maidoki (PDP, Kebbi South), however, made further amendment, asking that Ningi be suspended for three months.
Akpabio, who described Ningi’s offences as “grievous,” conducted a voice vote during which most of the lawmakers voted in support of Ningi’s suspension for three months.
“Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for a period of three months,” Akpabio ruled.
Immediately after the pronouncement was made, Ningi was led out of the floor of the Senate by one of the Sergeants-at-Arm.