Budget Padding: Unearthing Another N500m Allegations Against Nigerian Senators
- By Metropolix ~
- March 13, 2024 --
- 0 Comment
– Nigerian Senate Floor
By St. Johnson Adegboyega
Rather than allow a sleeping dog to continue to snore over Senator Ningi’s allegation of 2024 budget padding, Nigerian Senators got further entangled in another accusation on the floor of the Senate that some Senators got N500 million each from the budget.
It was like a bombshell when it was uttered and a few Senators scampered for the Senate Rule Book to seek appropriate sections to curb and sanction Senator Jarigbe’s shocking disclosure. But it was too late as he had spilled the beans. If the trial of Senator Ningi was intended as an image laundering exercise to change public perception of the image of the Senate and the government; it failed woefully. The Senate got more bruised from the new revelation and its image sank further in public perception going by comments making the rounds on social media.
Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe representing Cross Rivers North disclosed in his submission that the Senate should allow Senator Ningi sequel to the speech by the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee making some clarifications on the allegation of padding of the budget with a sum of N3.7 trillion.
“All of us are culpable. Some so-called Senior Senators here got 500M Naira each from the 2024 Budget, I am a ranking Senator I didn’t get anything. No Senator has a right to accuse Senator Ningi.” said Senator Jarigbe. This statement threw the Senate into a rowdy session.
Earlier, Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of National importance against Senator Abdul Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Services).
Senator Ningi, in the interview, was quoted to have said, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets.
One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu and the one was implemented by the presidency.”
But Senator Adamu Aliero pleaded for Ningi: “Please, let’s use this one to warn him, it can happen to anybody.
On his part, Senator Ali Ndume said “I called Senator Ningi when he raised the issue of discrepancies, I asked him for facts and proofs, and he didn’t give me any. Up till now, he did not give me any proof of all his allegations. He didn’t give any senator any proof…”
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo State argued vehemently for the suspension of Senator Ningi proposing one year and for him to forfeit his salaries and allowances during the period of his suspension.
But Senator Opeyemi Bamidele came down hardest on Senator Ningi. He said Senator Ningi’s action was tantamount to a civilian coup which has failed. He made a strong submission for the punishment of Senator Ningi. He said: “Mr Senate President sir, It would be unbelievable and absurd to accept any form of apology from Senator Ningi. He is being intentionally creative with the truth. He spiced his speech with a little history thereby warning Senator Akpabio of an impending doom.
Mr Senate President, “You are the first from south-south to occupy that seat since 40 years ago. The losers of the 2023 elections are still anguished from the pains of defeats. Their evil machination is to unseat you before June 2024. Therefore, Senator Ningi, must be severely punished to serve as a deterrence to others who may wish to follow.
“We must never accept any apology from Senator Ningi. It is ridiculous to do so.
He lied deliberately. Mr Senate President, you’re occupying that seat 40 years after a South-South person occupied it. The last time a Southerner was there was during Obasanjo and they were being changed every time. It was only stable when it returned to the north. David Mark spent 8 years, Saraki completed his 4 years, and Lawan spent his 4 years.
“Don’t be deceived, the losers of the June 2023 Senate presidential election are still angry. Some have accepted but a few haven’t. They have plotted to remove you before June 2024. That is why you must not allow this deliberate mischief by Ningi to go away. He did it on purpose. He knew he was lying, he set the public against you, and he will do it again. We must apply our sanction.”
The motion to suspend Senator Ningi for three months was put to vote and by a voice vote, the majority of the Senators were in support. Senator Ningi quietly took his exit out of the Senate Chamber.
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