The Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) for three months from all activities of the Senate over the 2024 Budget padding allegation.
The upper chamber’s resolution was a sequel to a motion by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun) during Tuesday’s plenary.
The motion was titled: “Urgent Need to Address the False Allegations Against the Senate and the Presidency on the 2024 Appropriation Act by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central).”
The BBC Hausa Service had reported Ningi as said that President Bola Tinubu was operating two different budgets for 2024.
It said Ningi had claimed that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as 2024 budget and not the N28.7 trillion that was being implemented by the Federal Government.
The initial prayers of the upper chamber was “allow for immediate deliberation of the matter and take appropriate action deemed fit in the overriding public interest and to prevent break down of law and order.
“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 Ningi.
“And amplified by Sen. Suleiman Kawu (NNPP-Kano) through his facebook account and other social media platforms; and
“Take any further decision as the Senate deems fit and proper to safeguard the integrity of the 2024 Budget which is pivotal to the revamping of our economy.”
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) had moved for an additional prayer that Ningi be suspended for an initial period of 12 months while Sen. Edeh Dafinone (APC-Delta) seconded.
But, Sen. Garba Maidoki (PDP-Kebbi) moved a motion for an amended prayer that the suspension should be for three months which was seconded by Sen. Sani Musa (APC-Niger).
Earlier, moving the motion, Adeola as Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, said that the additional increase of N1.2 trillion was presented by the President during the appropriation process.
“This was through additional funding requests.
“The additional source of funding for the increase came from the increase in the benchmark of naira to dollar from N750-N800, increase in Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) revenue and other sources.
“The false allegations including that of the 2024 Budget being against the “North” has since generated debate in the media and general public with aspersions on all senators, the Senate and the National Assembly.”
In his own defence, Ningi said , “I think Sen. Adeola has done a fair job except on some issues that I do not understand. I never said the budget was padded.
“I never issued any of these statements. This is a fake contribution that was forwarded, I do not know the author of this,” Ningi told the Senate.
In his contribution, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele said what Ningi had set to do “was tantamount to a civilian coup.”
Earlier, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said that “Ningi told me he had paid the consultant N30 million to conduct the investigation.
“Ningi called some of us for a meeting. When he told me this, I told him I would like to see the details.
“But i didn’t receive it, but you had the opportunity to attend a BBC interview. It’s only you that has the document you have. I don’t have it.
“I want Nigerians to know that what President Bola Tinubu presented to the National Assembly was N27.5 trillion, at no time did the President presented N25 trillion.
“The integrity of this Chamber has been totally damaged,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Ningi, had in a chat with Senate correspondents on Monday, said he is ready to carry his cross, even if it means suspension from the Red Chamber.
Ningi clarified that he never suggested that President Bola Tinubu is implementing two budgets or that he was biased against the North.
He clarified that he stands by his utterance as a Senator and not the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, that it has been established beyond doubt that N25trn was rightly allocated in the budget, citing three parameters (money, project and location) but cannot ascertain the project location for the other N3trn.
Charged With Criminal Misinformation?
Meanwhile, a lawmaker from Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim, has asked the Federal Government to charge Senator Ningi to court for criminal misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension.
The Presidency had on Sunday described as false, a claim by Senator Ningi that the Federal Government is operating two versions of the 2024 budget.
According to a statement by a Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the senator’s claim that the National Assembly passed N25 trillion as the 2024 Budget is false, adding that N28.7 trillion was passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The Presidency also described as “far-fetched and unbecoming of a leader of his status”, the claim by Senator Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, that the 2024 Budget was anti-north.
Onanuga said the President is leading a government that is fair and equitable to every part and segment of Nigeria. He added that in terms of funding, distribution of capital and priority projects, the 2024 Appropriation Act was not skewed against any section of the country.
