Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, has received a letter from Ahmed Ningi, the senator from Bauchi Central, requesting the abolition of his suspension.

Through his attorney, Femi Falana (SAN), Ningi wrote Akpabio a letter threatening to sue the Senate before the Federal High Court if his suspension was not overturned within the next seven days.

Ningi’s allegation that the 2024 budget was inflated by N3.7 trillion led to the Senate suspending him for three months on March 12.

In a press conference, Ningi asserted that the N28.7 trillion budget being carried out by the Presidency was in contrast to the N25 trillion budget approved by the National Assembly for the fiscal year 2024.

Even so, the Senate allowed the senator from Bauchi to refute the accusation during the March 12 plenary. After that, the senator was severely punished with a three-month suspension for tarnishing the reputation of the Red Chamber over what the senators deemed to be a baseless accusation.

Ningi packed his belongings after the suspension was announced and left the Red Chambers while waving to his coworkers.

Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua of the All Progressives Congress, who represents Katsina Central, took over as Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum when he resigned from his post.

But two weeks after his suspension, Ningi argued through his attorney, Falana, that the suspension procedure was flawed.

On Wednesday, the Senate President’s office received his letter to the Senate President.

In the letter, Falana wrote: “On March 9, 2024, our client granted an interview to the BBC Hausa Service on the 2024 Appropriation Act.

“He expressed his views on the budget of the Federal Government in the exercise of his fundamental right to freedom of speech guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“Dissatisfied with the interview, you caused our client to be put on trial before the Senate on March 14, 2024 contrary to the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018.”

In the letter, Falana claimed that the Senate President had taken on the duties of accuser, prosecutor, and judge in the case, completely contravening Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

In addition to undermining Ningi’s fundamental right to a fair trial, Falana contended that the Senate breached the people’s right to a three-month senatorial district representative from the Bauchi Central Senatorial District.

“This is a breach of Section 111 of the Constitution and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act,” the SAN said.

“As you are no doubt aware, the Federal High Court had struck down the suspension of some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who had accused the leadership of both houses of budget padding, corruption or abuse of office.

“Specifically, the court declared the suspension of the affected legislators illegal and unconstitutional.

“As a senior lawyer, you (Akpabio) ought to have drawn the attention of the members of the Senate to these decisions and several others where the high courts of some states and the Court of Appeal have held that no parliament in Nigeria has the power to suspend or expel a legislator and confiscate his salaries and allowances.

“In view of the foregoing, you will agree with us that the suspension of Senator Ningi and the denial of his entitlements are illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular.

“We are compelled to request you to ensure that the said suspension is lifted forthwith.

“However, if you fail to accede to our request seven days upon receipt of this letter, we shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court for the reinstatement of our client. We shall equally report you to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for treating the judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal with disdain.”