By Dipo Olowookere
Senator Abdul Ningi has been suspended by the Senate for three months over his allegations that the 2024 budget was padded with about N3.7 trillion.
The opposition lawmaker was slammed with the suspension at the plenary on Tuesday after his colleagues debated his allegations and interview in the media.
Mr Ningi, who was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Bauchi Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, had claimed in an interview with BBC Hausa that the N28.7 trillion budget of 2024 was padded with N3.7 trillion.
When he was asked about the matter today at the plenary, he reaffirmed his stance, saying there existed evidence of padding in the appropriation law.
According to him, consultants were hired to critically look into the budget passed by President Bola Tinubu and it was discovered that N3.7 trillion could not be accounted for.
After heated debates, he was asked to stay away from parliamentary activities for at least three months. This was after Mr Jimoh Ibrahim had moved for his suspension for at least 12 months, but Mr Abdulfatai Buhari pleaded for three months.
Before now, Mr Ningi, who is the chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, had said he was not afraid of being suspended from the Senate over his claims.
