The Senate has said that its President, Godswill Akpabio, has no power to recall suspended Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, noting that only 108 members of the Upper Legislative Chamber can do so.
Recall that Senator Ningi was slammed with a three-month suspension after he alleged budget padding amounting to 3.7 trillion, an allegation the Senate denied.
The Senate, presided by Akpabio, slammed a three-month suspension on Ningi on March 13, 2024, before proceeding on recess.
As Senate gears up to resume plenary on Tuesday, there have been concerns over Ningi’s fate.
Ningi’s lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, had earlier written Senate President Godswill Akpabio, asking him to reinstate the lawmaker.
But, the lawyer to Akpabio also responded that it was the Senate decision and not Akpabio’s decision, as he was only a presiding officer.
However, speaking to journalists on Monday ahead of the the resumption of the Senate, the Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said Ningi offended the Senate and a disciplinary action was taken against him by the entire lawmakers.
“There was an infraction occasioned by the actions of our respected colleague, Senator Abdul Ningi which made the Senate in an open public session, where he was given the opportunity to defend himself and for Senators to talk on it, debated on it, then at the end of the day it was found that an infraction had really occurred.
“And 109 Senators except Senator Ningi now decided that Senator Ningi would be given a light disciplinary declaration which gave him a three-month suspension from parliamentary activities.
“So it is only 108 Senators that took that action that can call Senator Ningi back,” Adaramodu said.
