…what Ningi did was tantamount to civilian coup – Opeyemi Bamidele
…Kawu asked to apologise
NOSA EGHAGHA
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Senate on Tuesday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), for a period of three months.
During the period of suspension, he will not participate in any activity of the Senate, loses all privileges as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria including emoluments, allowances, entitlements and must stay away from the Senate.
He was found guilty of making false allegation of budget padding against the Godswill Akpabio – led Senate to the tune of N3.7 trillion and unfounded claim that the nation runs two different budgets, one of N25 trillion and the other of N28. 7 trillion.
Ningi was however, given a soft landing that he can be pardoned at the discretion of the Senate after he might have tendered an unreserved apology.
The suspension followed deliberation of a motion on “urgent need to address the false allegations against the Senate and the Presidency on the 2024 Appropriation Act by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) sponsored by Senator Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West).
Adeola, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, coming under Senate Orders 9, 10, 41 and 51 referred to an interview granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service translated into English language by Bashir Aliyu Mere in which Ningi made the allegations.
He noted that following the presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion by President Bola Tinubu to the Joint Sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday 29th November,2023 and the National Assembly passed a budget of N28.77 trillion and was assented by the President Tinubu on the 1st January, 2024.
However, Adeola said Ningi told the BBC Hausa that Nigeria was operating two budgets; N25 trillion passed by the National Assembly and N28.77 trillion being implemented by the the presidency.
Senator Olamilekan tendered the transcribed English version and a sift copy of the Ningi Hausa interview before the Senate.
Adeola said his privilege as a senator was breached by the misinformation and the integrity of the Senate as an institution was breached.
As part of his prayers, he moved that decisive action must be taken against Ningi to serve as deterrent in order not to put the image of the Senate into disrepute.
When Ningi was given the opportunity to defend himself, he said he never said N25 trillion budget was passed by the National Assembly nor said Nigeria was operating two budgets in 2024.
He explained that he made efforts to draw the Senate President’s attention to some observations made from the 2024 budget that about N3 trillion had no nexus with location and place, meaning they were not tied to specific projects.
But Adeola as chairman of the Appropriation Committee explained reasons for the N3.7 trillion difference referred to as padding by Ningi.
He said the amount represents statutory transfers of government agencies such as INEC, UBEC etc that operates on first line charge. He said budgets of these agencies are not domiciled in any MDA.
The appropriation for those commissions amounting to N3,7 trillion were not in the budget, he added.
Adeola established that N3.7 trillion. was not missing, was not padded but meant for statutory transfer.
Also accused of complicity in the allegation, Senator Suleiman Sumaila Kawu (Kano South) when allowed to defend himself said he did not granted an interview since the meeting of a few northern senators with the Senate President.
He said he read the interview by Ningi and thought he had granted that interview before their decision not to go to the press.
He said, “I totally disagree with what Adeola read as coming from me.
“We are not in any way attempt to undermine the President, Senate President or the Senate. We understood out responsibility to oversight but how many of us have time to go through this budget.”
Efforts were made by some senators like Adamu Aliero( APC Kebbi), Sani Musa (APC Niger) and Abba Moro (PDP Benue) to prevail on Ningi to apologize but he did not avail himself of the opportunity.
Setting the tone for Ningi’s suspension was Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who spoke as representative of Ekiti Central and not as Senate Leader said what Ningi did was tantamount to civilian coup using the platform of the NSF.
He insinuated that a few senators who are not satisfied with the emergence of Akpabio as Senate President have been scheming to have him.impeached before his first anniversary in office in June this year.
“Let’s make no mistake about it, those who have concluded plan to impeach you before June 2024 are hell bent to do everything to unseat you.
“You can understand why Senator Ningi want to use the name of NSF to achieve that.
“I beg all of you we must do the right thing. I am saying it as part of the leadership of this senate.
“But if the Senate think otherwise, let us go into close door to resolve this.
After a very rowdy session, the Senate resolved to suspend Ningi after an additional prayer to Olamilekan’s motion moved by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) for the Senate to suspend Ningi for an initial period of 12 months within which period he should stay away from the Senate.
It was amended to reduce the period to six months by Senator Ekpeyong Asuquo (Cross River South) and further amended to reduce it to three months by Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).
Maidoki’s amendment also had a caveat that if he writes apology and show remorse any moment during the period, the Senate will recall him from the suspension.
The Senate also resolved to “Take further necessary steps to correct the wrong impression in public domain of 2024 budget created by the BBC interview and other national media houses and social media platforms by Senator Abdul Ningi and amplified by Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu through his facebook account and other social media platforms.
“Take any further decision as the senate deem fit and proper to safeguard the integrity of the 2024 budget which is pivotal to the revamping of our economy.”
