The Senate has suspended Abdul Ningi, asenator representing Bauchi Central, for claiming that the 2024 budget was inflated by N3 trillion.
During the more than three-hour plenary on Tuesday, the matter was debated by the Senate’s standing order.
Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun West, moved a privilege motion, which prompted the upper legislative chamber to suspend the lawmaker.
Ningi sparked a debate over the weekend when he claimed that the budget had caused “huge damage” to the north and the country as a whole.
The National Assembly passed a budget of N28.7 trillion for the fiscal year 2024.
President Bola Tinubu proposed N27.5 trillion, but lawmakers increased the figure by N1.2 trillion.
While moving his motion, Adeola claimed that his privilege had been violated because he was involved in the budgeting process for 2024.
The senator said:
“My privilege has been breached because I was one of those who participated in the preparation of the budget. With what has transpired in the last three days, my privilege has been breached.”
“One of the senators of this chamber granted an interview to BBC Hausa and issues relating to budget were mentioned.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have the full transcript – notarised – of the interview and I have here in a flash the voice of Abdul Ningi and I want to lay it before the senate.
“It becomes necessary because of the headlines that have come from these interviews.”
Despite Ningi’s efforts to defend himself, claiming that he had documents to back up his claim, the majority of senators wanted him punished.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate‘s majority leader, said Ningi’s comments were an attempt to “overthrow” Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“What he did was tantamount to a coup using the platform of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF),” Bamidele said.
According to TheCable, Ningi’s claim could lead to his suspension.