The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months over his allegation that the Federal Government was operating two budgets.
The suspension followed the amendment of prayers by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to the motion raised by Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan which took Senators hours to debate.
Ningi granted an interview on Monday last week alleging that the sum of N3.7 trillion could not be traced to projects.
He was quoted as saying that, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the presidency.
“The one approved by us is ₦25tn while the one operating by the Federal Government is ₦28tn.
“Apparently, we discovered ₦3tn was inserted into the budget for projects without locations. This is the highest budget padding that happened in Nigerian history under Senator Akpabio’s watch.”
After a heated debate on Tuesday, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim ( APC, Ondo South) moved a motion that Ningi be suspended for 12 months. This was followed by a prayer by Senator Ekpeyong Asuquo representing Cross River South Senatorial District saying that he should be suspended for six months.
The Senate also warned Senator Suleiman Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) against sharing and distributing disturbing news about the Senate.
Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation ( Hausa Service).
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 and Ningi was suspended for six months.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, in his initial comment before the debate, noted that Nigerians were bashing the Senate.
Akpabio said, “Nigerians are bashing the Senate. Many Nigerians will never come back to respect this chamber in the future. The integrity of this chamber has been totally damaged, and we wanted you (Ningi) to repair it with your speech.
