After a heated plenary session of the Senate on Tuesday, Bauchi Central Senator Abdul Ningi has been suspended for three months following his alarming claim of a staggering N3 trillion budget padding in the 2024 Budget.
The decision, reached after a heated debate, stemmed from a motion moved by Ogun West Senator Adeola Olamilekan which sought punitive measures against Ningi for his actions, including suspension.
Before the suspension order was issued, Senators engaged in a thorough debate on the breach of privilege following Ningi’s budget-padding claim.
Senator Olamilekan, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, further fuelled the discussion by presenting a motion to investigate Ningi’s allegations.
During the debate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele accused Ningi of attempting a coup against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Bamidele linked Ningi’s actions to the Senate leadership election in June 2023, suggesting a motive to destabilize the current leadership.
Senator Ningi, who denied the allegations, claimed he was misquoted due to speaking in Hausa during a BBC interview. However, the Senate, taking a firm stance, suspended Ningi for three months, citing the severity of the allegations and the potential disruption to the Senate’s functioning.
The motion for Ningi’s suspension was seconded by Senator Joel Onawakpo, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to maintaining order and addressing actions deemed detrimental to its integrity.
