Breaking: Senate suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for N3.7tn budget padding allegation

In a heated session at the Nigerian Senate, Senator Abdul Ningi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), representing Bauchi Central, has been suspended for three months,  for making allegations of budget padding totalling N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

The suspension follows a long debate within the Senate chambers after Senator Ningi persistently raised concerns over the alleged missing funds in the budget. 

While Ningi stood firm on his claims, asserting that such a significant amount couldn’t be reconciled within the budget, some northern senators distanced themselves from his assertions, disowning his claims and insisting that he didn’t represent their views.

The matter escalated further when Senator Olamilekan Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Ogun West and also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion during the Tuesday plenary. He urgently called for addressing what he termed as “false allegations” made by Ningi.

During the session, Adeola presented a transcript of Ningi’s interview with the Hausa BBC, where he reiterated his concerns about the missing funds. This prompted Senate President Godswill Akpabio to call for a committee of the whole house to address the matter.

During the debate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi and recommended a warning for Senator Sumaila Kawu of Kano South, who was also implicated in the controversy.

However, Senator Chris Ekpeyong countered with an amendment motion, suggesting a six-month suspension, which gained support from another senator advocating for a three-month suspension.

Ultimately, the Senate settled on a three-month suspension for Senator Abdul Ningi.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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