Ahmed Ningi, the senator for Bauchi Central in Nigeria’s Senate, has formally contested his suspension through a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, penned by Ningi’s attorney, Femi Falana, on March 27, 2024. The letter, which carries the title ‘Request To Lift The Suspension Of Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi,’ not only seeks Ningi’s reinstatement but also warns of impending legal action should the suspension remain unlifted after a week. This action comes in the wake of Ningi’s three-month suspension by the Senate on March 12 due to allegations of budget manipulation.
Ningi’s accusations against the Senate’s leadership and the presidency involved an alleged inflation of the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion, leading to significant public backlash. Despite the controversy, Ningi reiterated his claim of a N3.7 trillion discrepancy in the budget, emphasizing that while the National Assembly approved a N25 trillion budget, the presidency proceeded with a N28.7 trillion budget.
The letter from Ningi’s lawyer levies serious criticisms against Akpabio, particularly for assuming the roles of “the accuser, the prosecutor and the Judge” in Ningi’s suspension case, a move deemed “in utter violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.” The document states, “It is on record that you were the accuser, the prosecutor, and the Judge in your own case in utter violation of the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”
Furthermore, the letter defends Ningi’s “fundamental right of freedom of speech” and asserts that his suspension, along with the denial of his entitlements, violates not only his rights but also those of the constituents of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District. The letter highlights, “Apart from violating our client’s fundamental right to fair hearing, the Senate violated the right of the entire people of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District to representation in the Senate for three months.”
Referencing previous legal precedents where similar legislative suspensions were overturned, Ningi’s legal team argues that the suspension and the forfeiture of Ningi’s entitlements are “illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular.” The letter concludes with a demand for immediate reinstatement, stating, “However, if you fail to accede to our request Seven (7) days upon receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court for the reinstatement of our client.”
This letter represents a formal and legal challenge to the Senate’s decision to suspend Ningi, invoking constitutional rights and legal precedents, and it underscores the potential for legal recourse in the event that the Senate does not reverse its decision.
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