Senate to Reconsider Suspension of Senator Ningi Over Budget Padding Allegations

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced that the upper chamber will revisit the three-month suspension imposed on Senator Abdul Ningi. The suspension was initiated following allegations of budget padding amounting to N3.7 trillion within the N28.78 trillion 2024 budget.

Akpabio made this declaration upon his return to Nigeria after attending the 148th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite stating that he is yet to receive any formal communication from Senator Ningi, Akpabio expressed optimism about Ningi’s return to legislative duties, indicating that the matter would be handled internally.

The suspended Senator, representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, reportedly sought the intervention of Senate leadership through his legal representative, Femi Falana, SAN. Falana asserted that Ningi’s suspension infringed upon his right to a fair hearing and deprived the people of Bauchi Central Senatorial District of their representation in the Senate.

In a letter addressed to the Senate, Falana threatened legal action if Ningi’s suspension was not lifted within seven days, citing violations of constitutional and human rights provisions. He criticized the Senate President for assuming the roles of accuser, prosecutor, and judge in the case, alleging a breach of legal procedures.

Senator Ningi was initially suspended on March 12, 2024, following remarks made during a media interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he raised concerns about unaccounted funds within the national budget. Consequently, Ningi resigned from his position as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, subsequently replaced by APC Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua representing Katsina Central.