A leading Nigerian criminologist and board chair of the Catholic inspired NGO, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) says the group could launch an international campaign urging American voters to vote out the Biden administration if it continues to turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Suspended Senator representing Bauchi Central of Bauchi State, Abdul Ahmed Ningi, has written the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Senate leadership demanding that the suspension placed on him be lifted.
Senator Ningi, wrote Sen Godswiil Akpabio through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), noting that if his suspension was not lifted in the next seven days, he would drag the Senate before the Federal High Court.
Recall that the Senate, on March 12, sent Ningi on a Tthree months suspension over his claim that the 2024 budget was padded to the tune of N3.7tn.
Abdul Ningi, in a media interview with the BBC Hause Service, alleged that while the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year was N25tn, the one being executed by the Presidency was N28.7tn.
However, at the plenary on March 12, the Senate took the Bauchi Senator on to defend the allegation, at the end of which he was slammed with a three-month suspension for allegedly damaging the image of the Red Chamber over what Senators decided was an unfounded allegation.
Following the pronouncement of the suspension, Abdul Ningi packed his things and walked out of the Red Chambers, waving hands to his colleagues.
He subsequently stepped down from his position as the Chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum and was replaced by the All Progressives Congress Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua representing Katsina Central.
However, two weeks after his suspension,. Abdul Ningi, through his Lawyer, Falana contended that the process of his suspension was faulty through a letter to the Senate President which was received at the Senate President’s office on Wednesday.
In the letter, Femi 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.”
