• Let bygones be bygones, Akpabio admonishes
After staying away for 75 days out of the 90-day suspension slammed on him by the Senate on March 12, 2024, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central), resumed legislative activities at the Senate yesterday in plenary.
Following a motion sponsored by the minority leader, Senator Abba Moro, on behalf of the minority caucus, the Senate recalled Ningi from the three-month suspension.
Recall that Ningi was suspended by the Senate at the committee of the whole on the 2024 budget padding allegation he levelled against the Senate during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service.
The Senate recalled him after two months and two weeks of the three-month suspension slammed on him for alleging the padding of the 2024 N28.7 trillion budget.
The lawmaker was suspended on March 12, 2024, for three months, but the Senate, yesterday, unanimously resolved to recall their colleague from suspension.
Recall that Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).
Ningi had, in the interview, alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25 trillion while the one being implemented by the Presidency was N28.7 trillion.
Elated to be back in the Senate, Ningi was among the first set of senators and House of Representatives members to arrive at the National Assembly for plenary yesterday.
Ningi, along with a few other senators, like Suleiman Kawu (NNPP Kano South), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, (PDP Sokoto South), among others, came into the National Assembly through the Villa Gate. He arrived at exactly 10: 40 a.m., 20 minutes before the 11:00 a.m. fixed for the commencement of the plenary, which eventually started at 12:10 p.m.
Following his suspension, Ningi lost his chairmanship position of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, which was given to Senator Mustapha Musa (APC Yobe East), two days after the suspension commenced.
Meanwhile, Ningi, on resumption, told his colleagues at plenary: “It’s time to move on” just as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, declared that bygones should be bygones.
Ningi spoke while expressing his appreciation to the Senate for recalling him from suspension after spending 75 out of 90 days slammed on him on March 12, 2024, at the committee of the whole.
Ningi, who expressed his appreciation through Order 42 of the Senate standing rules, said he was in Turkey when he heard he had been recalled from suspension.
He said: “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I rise with profound humility to commend the Senate, its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate leadership and the minority caucus for recalling me from suspension.
“I was in Turkey when the news got to me last week and I’m very much appreciative of the gesture.
“I’m happy to be back home because the National Assembly is like home to me, having served as House leader, Deputy Senate Leader in the past and now as one of the distinguished serving senators.
“I also thank my state Governor, Bala Mohammed, the people of Bauchi State and other Nigerians who reached out to me in one way or the other during the period that has now been put behind.”
In his response, Akpabio, on behalf of the Senate, said bygones should be bygones.
