BREAKING: Senate hands Ningi three months suspension for N3.7tn budget padding claim

Senator Abdul Ningi has been suspended for three months following allegations that N3.7 trillion was inflated into the 2024 budget.

Ningi is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Population and represents the PDP in Bauchi Central.

While the parties called for an investigation into the allegations, some northern senators denied Ningi’s assertions, claiming the Bauchi State senator did not speak for them. (https://punchng.com/parties-demand-n3-7tn-padding-probe-northern-senators-disown-ningi/)

However, the Bauchi senator claimed on Monday that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) raised a motion in plenary on Tuesday stating that there is an urgent need to address Ningi’s false allegations.

Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the Senate floor after Senate President Godswill Akpabio convened a committee of the whole house.

Meanwhile, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposes suspending Ningi for 12 months and warning Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South, NNPP).

Senator Chris Ekpeyong (Akwa-Ibom North-West, PDP) opposed by presenting an amendment to change the time period to six months, which was seconded. Another senator proposed a three-month suspension.

Details will be provided later.