Budget Padding: Akpabio States Ningi Will Return To The Senate In Coming Days

THE president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has made hints that the Upper House of Congress would take up removing the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central.

Following his return to Abuja from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) general meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Akpabio gave a speech on Friday.

HISTORY

Ningi caused a stir early this month when he claimed that the nation was running two budgets simultaneously and that the 2024 budget had been inflated by N3 trillion.

The issue was then discussed by the senate's “committee of the whole.”

The senator was then placed on leave for three months without pay for allegedly failing to produce documentation to support his claims.

NINGI IMPOSES SUE ON ΑΚΡΑΒΙO

Ningi, Akpabio's attorney, sent a letter on March 27 demanding that the Senate President lift his suspension from the upper house of representatives within seven days.

Ningi called his suspension “illegal” and threatened to file a reinstatement request with a federal high court if it wasn't removed in seven days.

“Apart from violating our client's fundamental right to a fair hearing, the Senate violated the right of the entire people of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District to representation in the Senate for three months,” the letter reads.

“This is a breach of section 111 of the Constitution and article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act.

“As you are no doubt aware, the Federal High Court had struck down the suspension of some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who had accused the leadership of both houses of corruption or abuse of office.”

Read Also: Those Who Allege Budget Padding Didn't Understand The Arithmetic — President Tinubu To The Senate

NINGI IS GOING TO JOIN US IN A FEW DAYS

Speaking on Friday, Akpabio stated that he thought Ningi will return to the senate in a few days, even though he had not yet received the letter.

“It is a parliamentary decision. I have not seen the letter yet,” Akpabio said.

“But senator Ningi is one of us. I mean what is suspension? I believe that in a few days, he will join us.

“So, there is no problem. It would be resolved amicably. The senate is a family.”