The Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi over allegations of N3.7trn padding of the 2024 Budget.
Ningi, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, was suspended for three months after a long stormy session in the red chamber.
A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, first 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.
READ ALSO: Ningi’s Civilian Coup To Unseat Akpabio Failed, Bamidele Alleges
However, other lawmakers like 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, 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 pounced on 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.
‘Civilian Coup To Remove Akpabio’
Meanwhile, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele from Ekiti Central Senatorial District has described as a “civilian coup”, claims made by Senator Ningi that the 2024 Budget passed by the Senate was padded.
A furious Bamidele, who is also the Majority Leader of the upper chamber, alleged that Ningi attempt to unseat Akpabio by allegedly inciting the Northern Senators’ Forum which he led against Akpabio, a southern senator, who took over from Ahmad Lawan.
Bamidele said, “What my big brother, distinguished Senator Abdul Ningi, whom I respect so well, planned to do or set out to do was tantamount to a civilian coup which has failed. And in doing this, he wanted to use the platform of the Northern Senators’ Forum. God bless all those who have dissociated themselves from the Northern Senators’ Forum.”
Bamidele said Senator Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Ahmad Lawan had “very peaceful tenure” as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015 and as Senate President from 2019 to 2023 respectively.
The Senate Leader said he was one of those instrumental to the success of Lawan and Tambuwal, who is now in the Senate after serving as Sokoto State governor between 2015 and 2023.
Bamidele complained that some Northern Senators still had reservation against Akpabio after his June 2023 victory over ex-Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari. Bamidele said the attempt to frustrate Akpabio’s tenure as Senate President must stop.
Last June, Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom governor was returned elected as President of the 10th Senate after scoring 63 votes, defeating Yari who scored 46 votes.
“I’m also speaking as a southerner for the first time. The attempt to take the election of the Senate beyond June 13, 2023 must stop,” Bamidele said.
“It was never about Mr President who signed this budget; it’s always about Akpabio. We have a momentum. This is a defining moment for us to say, ‘If we are going to have a stable Senate, let us have one. It is not about North and South, it is about our rules, it’s about the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It’s about our people who are hungry and deprived.
“Mr President, sitting as chair, a few people who felt they will not give you more than one year to be in this chair, wants to do everything possible before the 13th of June to remove you.”