By Musa Baba Adamu
The Senate yesterday suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for there months after it turned out that his allegations of having two different budges in circulation and shortchanging of the North were false.
The motion to suspend Sen Ningi for initial 12 months came from Sen Jimoh Ibrahim through additional prayers on a Motion moved by Chairman of the Senate Appropriation Committee, Sen Olamilekon Adeola.
But in an amendment to the additional prayers, Senators Maidoki and Buhari Abdulfatah moved that the 12 months be reduced to three months and upon writing letter of apology be recalled.
Senator Ningi is the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), but he said he made his allegations as a Senator of the Federal Republic and an opposition and not on behalf of the Forum.
Senate also resolved to send a warning to Senator Kawu Sumaila for sharing Sen Ningi interview on his social media handle without verification.
Before seconding the motion as moved by Sen Jimoh, Sen Ede Daminone (Delta Central) said Ningi was given the opportunity to apologize but he did not, seconded the motion for Ningi to be suspended for 12 months.
But Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross Rivers South) asked that Ningi be suspended for six months.
Sen Buhari Abdulfatai said he wants an amendment of the suspension period to three months.
Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South) who seconded the motion said since what was reported was untrue, the suspension should be for three months, but that if Ningi writes an apology letter to the Senate, he should be recalled.
Also, Sani Musa (Niger East) said Senator Ningi should be suspended for three months and that he should be given time to write an apology letter and should be recalled thereafter.
Ruling after a voice vote, Sen Godswill Akpabio said: “Distinguished Senator Ningi is hereby suspended for three months from the Senate of the federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ningi, who was sighted moving out of the red chamber carrying his bulky documents, was under a strict guardian of the sergeant-at-arm.
He said they must reflect soberly and they need to get back on track. He said Ningi who made the observation, he decided to attend the meeting and the conclusion was that the document must be presented to the Senate President if at all there is an issue, the should correct.
