The senate on Tuesday lifted the three-month suspension slapped on the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Mr Abdul Ningi.
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator was suspended on March 12, 2024 for a period of three months.
The senator spent two months and two weeks in suspension.
However, following a motion during plenary on Tuesday, the minority leader, Mr Abba Moro, moved a motion to recall Ningi.
The motion entitled ‘Unconditional recall of Senator Abdul Ningi’ was co-sponsored by the deputy minority leader and the minority whip, Messsrs Olalere Oyewumi and Osita Ngwu.
Moro urged the senate to recall Ningi so that he could continue his legislative activities.
The motion reads: “Note that on Tuesday 12th March, 2024, this very revered 10th Senate in plenary suspended the former Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central Senatorial District for three months.
“The suspension followed a media interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on March 9, 2024 in which he alleged that about N3.7 trillion representing over 10% of the 2024 budget was illegally inserted into the 2024 National Budget.
“Note further that Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was asked to address his allegation of budget padding against the National Assembly, following a motion of urgent national importance moved by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations.
“And failing to address the allegation, the Senate resolved to suspend Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi for three months for violating legislative rules, misconduct and unethical behavior for the interview he granted on BBC Media on the 2024 Appropriation Act, a legislation which process he was part of.
“Aware that the said Senator Abdul Ahmed Ninigi, being under suspension, has spent over two months outside the precincts of the National Assembly Complex and needs to return to continue with his legislative activities as the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
“Flowing from the above, the Senate Minority leadership takes full responsibility for the actions of our colleague Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and apologizes on his behalf.
“Accordingly the Senate resolves to:
“Reconsider the additional resolution of the Senate (i) of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday 13th March, 2024 to recall Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi to the Senate as Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.”
The prayer was unanimously approved and the senator was recalled.
Recall that the senator was suspended for making unsubstantiated allegation of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of N3.7 trillion.
He said that that in an interview he granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on March 9, 2024.
His suspension followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the chairman, senate committee on appropriation, Mr Solomon Adeola.