Ningi’s constituents ask court to nullify suspension
Constituents of suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi, PDP) have filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the order of the court nullifying his suspension.
The application was brought on Wednesday by constituents of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, including Sadiq Abubakar, Abdullahi Jibrin, Adamu Hassan, Shafiu Abdullahi, Magaji Shafihu, William John, Yahaya Saleh, Yusuf Adamu, Adamu Sulaiman, and Habibu Mamuda.
The suit was brought against the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, and the Sergeant-atArms of the Senate.
In the suit brought by their counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the constituents are demanding an order reinstating Ningi as the senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District with all the rights and privileges accorded to a
Nigerian senator without hindrance whatsoever.
They also want an order restraining the defendants and their privies, agents, and persons acting on their behalf from tampering, limiting, and restraining the access of Senator Ningi to the precincts of the National Assembly Complex, the usage of his office, and hallowed chambers for effective and efficient representation of the good people of Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
The constituents are seeking a determination of whether the lawmakers have the right to suspend Ningi for 30 days over the expression of his opinion on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service concerning the 2024 Appropriation Act and whether such expression breached the privilege of Senator Adeola or any other senator as alleged on the floor of the senate.
They asked the court to declare that Senator Ningi’s suspension was without due process, illegal, and a violation of his right to a fair hearing.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.