The Senate has pardoned and recalled Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, suspended in March 2024 over budget padding allegations. The recall, initiated by Senator Abba Moro, was confirmed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, emphasizing Ningi's value and resourcefulness, just weeks before his suspension was set to end.
The Nigerian Senate has pardoned and reinstated Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, who had been suspended since March 12, 2024. The decision was made following a motion moved by Deputy Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, who expressed regret on behalf of Ningi and pledged to assume responsibility for his actions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the unconditional recall of Ningi after several lawmakers made a brief plea for his reinstatement. Akpabio emphasized Ningi’s value to the Senate, highlighting his resourcefulness and noting that the decision to recall him transcended religious and ethnic divides.
Ningi's suspension was originally due to allegations of N3.7 trillion padding in the 2024 budget. The suspension, which was to last three months until June 12, 2024, followed a contentious session in the Senate, where a voice vote led to the majority supporting his temporary removal. Akpabio had described Ningi’s offenses as "grievous," underscoring the severity of the allegations.
Ningi later denied claiming that the government was operating dual budgets but stood by his assertion that only N25 trillion of the budget was allocated to specific projects, leaving N3.7 trillion unaccounted for.
With Ningi’s return, the Senate faces the challenge of moving past the controversy and focusing on legislative duties. His reinstatement is seen by some as a step toward unity and by others as a potentially contentious decision that highlights ongoing political tensions.
