Barring any last minute change of mind, the immediate-past Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, will be suspended by the Senate, over what the Lawmakers have described as ‘unparliamentary’ utterances, made by the Borno-born Lawmaker.
It was gathered, that plans have been concluded and are at an advanced stage in the camp of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on how to move against Ndume.
It was also learnt, that another Senator seen to be neutral, has been approached to move a motion on the floor of the Senate to that effect.
Already, Senators loyal to Saraki, are already reaching out to their colleagues who are yet to join the train. Senator Dino Melaye, who heads the FCT Committee, is believed to be leading the offensive.
Ndume incurred the wrath of Saraki and his loyalists, when he protested the rejection of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate.
Ndume had protested the approach adopted by the Senate President. He said Saraki erred, by accepting a new report not signed by the Director-General of Department of State Security Services, DSS, Lawal Daura.
Referring to a similar letter written to the Senate President, by an Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, on behalf of the Col. Hammed Ali, Ndume had queried why Saraki declined to read the letter, but accepted a similar one from the DSS.
Ndume, after the second rejection of Magu, granted several press interviews, where he openly criticized Saraki and the entire Senate for rejecting Magu.
Multiple sources familiar with the planned suspension of Ndume, told Daily Sun, that the move may happen any time soon.
Unperturbed by his planned suspension, Ndume, yesterday, called for the investigation of Saraki and Melaye, over the face-off with the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd.) and the certificate forgery allegation leveled against Melaye.
Senator Ndume, who came under a motion of national importance, said Saraki according to a story published by an online newspaper, sanctioned the summon of the NCS, over claims that his bullet proof Ranger Rover Sport was impounded.
On the part of Melaye, Ndume said the an online platform, published a story that the Kogi State born Senator, did not obtain a degree in Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria.
Ndume drew instances from four scenarios. He said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, was accused of certificate forgery, and how he eventually cleared his name.
He said former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was also accused when he held sway as the Senate boss. According to Ndume, Wabara also cleared his name.
He added, that the current Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, was accused of certificate forgery, but went ahead and cleared his name.
His last reference was made to Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. He said he was accused of not writing his Senior Secondary School Examination. Again, Bankole said he cleared his name.
Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with the Senator, Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, and it was reported in a paper I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance, after Nigeria Customs seized Senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover, over fake documents.
“My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen, or heard, or read the rein of abuses on this Senate, and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss, based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.
“During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.
“In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated, and he showed his NYSC certificate.
“Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was accused of collecting a bribe, and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence have been set.
“Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague, Dino Melaye, and it is in the paper today. Therefore accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate, so that our colleagues would be cleared, and this Senate will stand as it supposed to.”
Sen. Melaye, who was in the Chamber when Ndume raised the twin issues, did not react or counter the statement.
With the nod of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s Legislative business, Ndume submitted some newspaper publications, after which the matter was referred to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, for further investigation.Labels: latest, nigerianpolitics, politics
