The Senate has taken decisive action by suspending Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his claim that the 2024 Budget was padded with N3.7 trillion. Ningi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population representing Bauchi Central, made the allegation, leading to calls for a probe into the matter.
While some senators disowned Ningi’s claims, stating that he did not speak for them, the Bauchi senator stood by his position, insisting that N3.7 trillion remained unaccounted for in the budget. In response to the urgency of addressing the false allegation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion during the plenary session.
A transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview was read on the floor of the Senate, after which Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed an amendment for Ningi’s suspension to last 12 months, with a warning issued to Senator Sumaila Kawu. However, Senator Chris Ekpeyong opposed this, suggesting a six-month suspension, which was seconded. Subsequently, Senator Garba Maidoki further amended the motion, reducing Ningi’s suspension to three months.
Following a voice vote on the amended motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that Senator Ningi be suspended from the Senate for three months. Immediately after the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by one of the Sergeants-at-arms.
