JUST IN: Senate suspends Senator Ningi over N3.7trn budget padding allegation

The Senate on Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over his allegation that the Federal Government was operating two budgets.

Ningi is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Population and represents PDP, Bauchi Central.

While the parties called for a probe into the allegation, some northern senators disowned the claims made by Ningi, saying the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them.

Ningi, however, maintained his position on Monday that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) in the plenary on Tuesday, raised a motion that there is urgent need to address the false allegation by Ningi.

Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor of the house after Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.
The Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, moves for the suspension of Ningi for 12 months while adding that Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South, NNPP) be warned.

Senator Chris Ekpeyong (Akwa-Ibom North-West, PDP) opposed by moving a motion of amendment that it be adjusted to six months and it was seconded.

Another Senator said a three-month suspension should be adopted.

However, Senator AbdulRahid Mallam Maidori from Jigawa suggested a month’s suspension.

In his remarks, the Senate President sustained the three-month suspension after he put the recommended prayers to a voice vote.