Indications have emerged that the Senate may be set to recall Senator Abdul Ningi from his three-month suspension.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, confirmed the possibility of lifting the suspension of the Bauchi Senator while fielding questions from newsmen on arrival from the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Grassroots Parrot recalls that Ningi was suspended for three months after about three hours of debate over his interview with the BBC where he alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn.
Akpabio spoke barely 24 hours after Ningi, in a letter written by his counsel, Femi Falana SAN, on Thursday, gave Akpabio seven days to recall him or face legal action.
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Ningi, through his lawyer, Falana contended that the process of his suspension was faulty. His letter to the Senate President was received at the Senate President’s office on Wednesday.
Falana, in the letter, said the Senate President acted as the accuser, prosecutor and judge in the case, saying this was in utter violation of the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also argued that apart from violating Ningi’s fundamental right to a fair hearing, the Senate also violated the right of the people of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District to representation in the Senate for three months.
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Reacting to the development on Friday, Akpabio said though he has not seen the said letter, it is already receiving due attention.
According to him, the matter would be resolved like a family affair and hopefully Ningi would return to take his seat soon.
“It is a parliamentary decision. I have not seen the letter yet. 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,” Akpabio said.