Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, on Wednesday, restated that the Senate has not foreclosed a reprieve for the axed Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi.
Adaramodu restated the stance of the Red Chamber on Wednesday at a session with newsmen.
The Senate last March suspended Senator Ningi for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded with N3 trillion.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced Ningi’s suspension after it was supported by a majority of the Senators during deliberation at a Committee of the Whole.
The Senate spokesperson, who maintained that the suspension was a settled matter, however, clarified that the Senate could rescind its decision.
He said: “Senator Ningi is an internal matter, it has been dealt with. We have said if he wants variation of the decision taken by the entire Senate, the Senate will sit down and take another decision. It must be by the entire 108 senators. It is not Ningi vs Akpabio, or the Senate President, Ningi versus Senator Adaramodu.
“We have put Ningi behind us. If we want to rescind that decision, the entire Senate will put it forward and decide on its merit.”
Tribune Online checks revealed that while the National Assembly was on recess, Senator Ningi, through his lawyer, Femi Falana( SAN) faulted his suspension by the Senate.
Ningi in the letter dated March 27, 2024, addressed to the Senate leadership, maintained that his suspension was illegal because the Nigerian parliament does not possess the power to “suspend or expel a legislator and confiscate his salaries and allowances.”
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The senator said he would not hesitate to report Mr Akpabio to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee if the Senate leadership refused to lift his suspension within seven days.
Senator Akpabio, in his response through his counsel, Mr Umeh Kalu (SAN), declared that the 10th Senate, not Akpabio as an individual, axed Senator Ningi.
“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, ” Kalu (SAN) stated.
