The suspended Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi over budget padding allegation may not be returning to the Senate anytime soon following the response of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to Ningi’s lawyer, Femi Falana.
Recall that in a letter dated March 27, 2024 and addressed to Akpabio through his counsel, Ningi gave the senate president a seven-day ultimatum to lift his three months suspension from the upper legislative chamber.
Ningi had described his suspension as “illegal”, saying he would approach a federal high court for his reinstatement if the suspension is not lifted within seven days.
But in his response, Akpabio, through his lawyer, Umeh Kalu insisted that the decision to suspend the Bauchi Central senator was that of the senate.
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See details of the Senate President’s Response Below:
“We have carefully read through your analysis of the facts and circumstances leading to your client’s suspension from the senate,” the letter read.
“We are unable to find reason in your verdict of our client’s sole culpability in the said suspension. We therefore plead non est factum for our client. In addition to the above and contrary to the contents of your letter under reference, our client was at no time your client’s accuser, prosecutor and judge.
“Our client’s role at the session of the senate that led to your client’s suspension was and remains the statutory role of a legislative house presiding officer, which role equally includes pronouncing the majority decision of the legislative house at the end of debate and voting.
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“Permit us to mention your attempt at drawing our client’s attention to legal authorities and pronouncements of our courts of record on the unconstitutionality of suspending members of legislative houses, which attempt we dare say was unhelpful, due to your failure or refusal to make available the relevant particulars of the said court decisions in your letter.
“You may wish to provide these legal authorities which you have alluded to, bearing in mind that every decision of a court emanates from its peculiar facts, circumstances and extant laws. In as much as it may not be necessary to canvass herein all the remedies available to our client, in response to your threats of court action and petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC)…
“It is important we mention that legislative proceedings are guided by rules. We urge you to give due consideration to the legal issues raised in this letter and be guided accordingly in your further and future action in respect of this matter.”