Redaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-03-28 15:52:58
Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central District has issued an ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, demanding his reinstatement within seven days or face legal action. This comes after Ningi was suspended by the Senate for three months for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded with N3.7 trillion. The suspension was a response to Ningi’s claim that some senators received over N500 million from the budget for constituency projects.
In a letter signed by his lawyer, Femi Falana, Ningi emphasized that his suspension was illegal and should be reversed. He argued that the Nigerian parliament does not have the authority to suspend or expel a legislator and withhold their salaries and allowances. If the suspension is not lifted within the stipulated time frame, Ningi threatened to take legal action against Akpabio and report him to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Following Ningi’s suspension, he resigned from his position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum and was replaced by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua. However, the controversy surrounding his suspension continues, with supporters of Akpabio defending the Senate President and criticizing demands for his resignation.
The allegation of budget padding raised by Ningi and the subsequent suspension have caused a rift within the Senate. While Senator Solomon Adeola denied the padding allegations, stating that the funds were meant for statutory transfers to government institutions, Ningi’s claims have put him at odds with the leadership of the Senate.
In response to the escalating situation, Francis Okoye, a chieftain of the APC, expressed support for Akpabio and the decision to suspend Ningi. Okoye emphasized that Akpabio should not resign as Senate President, as he has not committed any wrongdoing.
Overall, the standoff between Ningi and Akpabio underscores the political tensions within the Senate and the challenges of budget allocation and oversight. It remains to be seen how this conflict will unfold in the coming days and whether legal action will be taken against Akpabio if Ningi’s demands are not met.
Read the original article on Legit.ng
