Senate Pardons, Recalls Senator Abdul Ningi For Three Months Suspension

The Senate has lifted the three-month suspension of Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, and allowed him to return to his duties.

Senator Abdul Ningi was suspended on March 12 for three months after he claimed that the 2024 budget had been inflated by N3 trillion.

The Senate had rejected the allegations, saying the amount was meant for statutory transfers to federal government institutions on first-line charge.

Ningi had through his counsel, Femi Falana SAN, wrote to the Senate president and gave him seven days ultimatum to recall him or face legal action.

The Senate president, Godswill Akpabio in his reaction to the ultimatum said Ningi’s suspension was not a unilateral action by him but the collective decision of the Senate.

However, Ningi was pardoned and recalled two weeks to the end of his three-month suspension which is supposed to terminate on June 12, 2024.

Ningi’s recall came after a motion was introduced by Abba Moro, the minority leader, along with senators Olalere Oyewumi (Osun South) and Osita Ngwu (Enugu West).

In the motion, Moro pointed out that Ningi had already been suspended for two months and emphasized the need for him to resume his legislative responsibilities.

“Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was asked to address his allegation of budget padding against the national assembly, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the chairman, senate committee on appropriations,” he said.

“Failing to address the allegation, the senate resolved to suspend Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct and unethical behaviour for the interview he granted on BBC media on the 2024 Appropriation Act, a legislation which he was part of.

“Senator Abdul Ahmed Ninigi, being under suspension, has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly Complex and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the senator representing Bauchi central senatorial district.

“Flowing from the above, the senate minority leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and apologises on his behalf.”

The motion to recall Ningi was passed with a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Meanwhile, the Senate has begun probing the utilization of N30 trillion in Ways and Means funds during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.