Ningi
Budget paddling: Senate wields hammer, suspends Ningi for three months
The Senate’s hammer descended on Senator Abdul Ningi over his allegations of N3.7 trlion padding in the 2024 Appropriation Act, with his suspension for three months.
Senator Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended after a stormy session in the Senate which proved that his allegations were based on falsehood.
Indeed, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, had initially moved the motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over allegations of criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension.
He had also asked the police and the Federal Government to prosecute Senator Ningi over his false allegations.
But other senators, including Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, moved for the amendment of the motion by Ibrahim. Ekpenyong, who is from Cross River South Senatorial District; and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari from Oyo North prayed for the reduction of the suspension to six and three months respectively.
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.
In an interview on BBC Hausa Service, Ningi had claimed that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget and that the N28.7 trillion Budget passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu was skewed against the North.
Many Senators and the Presidency had condemned Ningi, describing his claims as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”.
Ningi would later deny saying that the country is operating two budgets but insisted that only N25trn of the budget was tied to projects while N3.7trn had no project tied to it.
Ningi had on Monday said he was ready to carry his cross, even if it means suspension from the upper legislative chamber.
About The Author
