Just In: N3.7trn budget padding allegation: Senate suspends Ningi for three months

The Senate on Tuesday suspended the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Abdul Ningi, over an allegation of N3.7 trillion padded into the 2024 budget.

Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, suspended Ningi, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population, for three months.

According to Persecondnews, Ningi had earlier accused the National Assembly of inflating the 2024 budget by claiming that the nation was operating two appropriation acts while only passing one.

During a recent interview with the BBC Hausa service, Sen. Ningi alleged that the president ran two budgets with N3.7 trillion yet to be accounted for.

The comment alarmed the Senate, which demanded explanations from Senator Ningi during Tuesday’s plenary.

A member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Mr. 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.

However, another member of the red chamber, Mr. Chris Ekpeyong (Akwa-Ibom North-West, PDP), opposed it by moving a motion of amendment that it be adjusted to six months, while another senator, Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), asked that Ningi be suspended for three months.

The Senate President adopted the three month suspension after putting the amended motion to a voice vote.

Akpabio ruled: “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for a period of three months.”

Persecondnews reports that immediately after the pronouncement was made, Ningi was led out of the floor of the Senate by one of the sergeants-at-arm.