In a daring move, Bauchi Central senator Ahmed Ningi of Nigeria has demanded that his suspension be immediately lifted in order to contest it. According to The PUNCH, Ningi threatened to take the Senate to the Federal High Court if Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s suspension was not immediately lifted in a letter written by his attorney, Femi Falana (SAN), giving him seven days to comply. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The suspension, imposed on March 12, stemmed from Ningi’s allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 fiscal year. Despite his claims that the budget passed by the National Assembly amounted to N25 trillion, with the Presidency executing a higher figure of N28.7 trillion, Ningi found himself defending his stance before the Senate, only to be met with a three-month suspension for what was deemed an unfounded accusation damaging to the Senate’s reputation.
Falana, in his letter, highlighted the procedural flaws in Ningi’s suspension, arguing that it violated his client’s constitutional rights to freedom of speech and fair hearing. He criticized the Senate President’s role as accuser, prosecutor, and judge in the matter, alleging a breach of constitutional provisions and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. Moreover, Falana contended that the suspension infringed upon the constituents’ right to representation for three months, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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