Senator Abdul Ningi has been suspended by the Senate for three months following his allegations that the 2024 Budget was padded with N3.7 trillion. 

Ningi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population representing Bauchi Central, faced disapproval from some northern senators who disowned his claims.

Despite calls for a probe into the allegations, Ningi insisted that N3.7 trillion remained unaccounted for in the 2024 budget.

During the plenary on Tuesday, Senator Olamilekan Adeola raised a motion to address Ningi’s false allegation. Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor after Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.

An amended motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months, with a warning to Senator Sumaila Kawu, was moved by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. However, Senator Chris Ekpeyong opposed this, proposing a further amendment to reduce the suspension to six months, which was seconded. Senator Garba Maidoki made an additional amendment, suggesting a three-month suspension for Ningi.

After a voice vote on the amended motion, Senate President Akpabio declared, “Senator Ningi is hereby suspended from the Senate for a period of three months.” Following the announcement, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate floor by one of the Sergeants-at-arm. Further details are expected to emerge.