Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
The Senate, on Wednesday, suspended Senator Ali Ndume for six months over allegation against Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.
Senate claimed that Ndume accused Saraki of involving in clearing SUV Jeep with fake papers and Senator Melaye with fake certificate.
Presenting the report, the chairman of Senate Committee on Ethics and Privilege, Senator Samuel Anyawu cleared both Ndume and Melaye of allegation raised against them which was adopted by Senate.
Senator Ndume’s suspension came barely two months after he was removed as the Leader of the Senate.
Ndume had asked the Senate to look into the allegations of vehicle importation against the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and the alleged certificate forgery against Sen. Dino Melaye.
The committee was asked to investigate the allegation and invited Sen. Dino and Sen. Saraki to appear before it on Monday.
When Senator Ndume appeared before the committee, he stressed that he did not petition the President of the Senate or Senator Dino but only asked that the senate look into the allegations to clear the name of the institution and save the integrity of the red chamber.
However when the Senator Samuel Anyanwu Committee on Ethics submitted its report, it stressed that Senator Ndume lacked concrete evidence to have petitioned Saraki and Dino.
The Committee said that the action of the former leader of the Senate dragged the name of the Senate and its president to disrepute and as such should be punished.
The committee therefore recommended that the senator be suspended for 181 legislative days, equivalent of one calendar year.
Related Posts
However, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide pleaded that the penalty be reduced to six months rather than one year.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi seconded the motion to review the duration of the suspension to six months.
The Senate thereafter adopted the review and suspended Senator Ndume for six months.
In January, Ndume was removed as the Leader of the Senate and replaced with Sen. Ahmed Lawan.
No reason was given then for his removal except that the caucus agreed and sanctioned his replacement as leader.
© Copyright 2017 www.elombah.com; send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter @Elombah; like our Facebook page: Elombah.com; join us on WhatsApp HERE
