Akpabio bows to pressure, says Ningi will rejoin senate in a few days

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has indicated that there’s a chance the upper legislative chamber could revoke the suspension imposed on Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi central.

Akpabio made this announcement after returning to Abuja from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) general assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

The controversy began when Ningi alleged earlier this month that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion and that the country was simultaneously operating two budgets.

Following this, the senate deliberated on the matter in the “committee of the whole,” leading to Ningi’s suspension for three months due to his failure to provide evidence to support his claims.

In response, Ningi, through his legal counsel Femi Falana, issued a letter dated March 27 addressed to Akpabio, demanding the lifting of his suspension within seven days and labeling it as “illegal.”

He warned that if the suspension was not revoked within the stipulated timeframe, he would seek reinstatement through a federal high court.

Despite not having received the letter at the time of his statement, Akpabio expressed confidence on Friday that Ningi would soon return to the senate, describing the suspension as a parliamentary decision.

He also emphasized Ningi’s status as a member of the senate, expressing his belief that the issue would be resolved smoothly, given the senate’s familial nature.