Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for Alleging N3.7 Trillion Budget Padding

The Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his contentious claim of N3.7 trillion budget padding in the 2024 budget. Ningi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Bauchi Central and serving as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population, found himself in the midst of a political storm after his allegations surfaced.

While calls for a thorough investigation into Ningi’s claims echoed across party lines, several northern senators distanced themselves from his assertions, emphasizing that Ningi’s statements did not reflect their stance. Despite mounting pressure, Senator Ningi stood by his assertion on Monday, asserting that the purported missing N3.7 trillion remained unaccounted for in the budget.

During Tuesday’s plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola of the APC, representing Ogun West and serving as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, spearheaded a motion to address the purported false allegations made by Ningi. This motion gained traction, leading to a critical examination of Ningi’s statements.

In a subsequent development, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed an amended motion to suspend Ningi for 12 months, along with a warning to Senator Sumaila Kawu of NNPP. However, Senator Chris Ekpeyong countered with an amendment to reduce Ningi’s suspension to six months, garnering support from fellow senators.

Further amendments ensued, with Senator Garba Maidoki suggesting a three-month suspension for Ningi. Following a voice vote on the amended motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision: “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for a period of three months.”

Promptly after the verdict, Senator Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by a Sergeant-at-arms, marking a significant chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding the allegations of budget padding.