Alleged budget padding: Bala Mohammed, PDP call for independent investigation, condemn suspension of Ningi

Alleged budget padding: Bala Mohammed, PDP call for independent investigation, condemn suspension of NingiFollowing the suspension of the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi over allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammes have condemned the suspension of Ningi.

The PDP and the Bauchi State Governor called for an independent probe into the allegations made by the embattled Senator.

Ningi was suspended on Tuesday following his allegations that about N3.7 trillion in the budget is not tied to any project.

Ningi on Monday had insisted that a sum of N3.7trillion in the 2024 budget was not tied to any project.

After making allegations of padding the 2024 budget with N3.7 trillion tied to no projects, Ningi a former Deputy Senate leader, was suspended for three months over his comments in the interview he granted to the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, where he alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25 trillion, while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7 trillion.

After much controversy over the allegation, the Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution to suspend the lawmaker for three months after a heated atmosphere.

According to the Senate, there is no evidence proving that the 2024 budget was padded as alleged by Ningi.

Although Ningi’s  resignation letter as Chairman of the NSF was dated March 11, a copy was released shortly after Ningi was suspended by the Senate for three months following his comments on the alleged padding of the 2024 budget.

Making the PDP’s stance known, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said the Party also demands that Senator Akpabio immediately report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his pending case of alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State under his watch as Governor.

Ologunagba said, “Furthermore, the Senate President should speak out on the reported N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“The PDP firmly condemns the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate without a detailed inquiry into the issue of budget padding, which he raised.

“The suspension of Senator Ningi is apparently a desperate move to suppress investigation, conceal and sweep the facts under the carpet.

“Moreover, the frustration of investigation by the APC Senate leadership further confirms PDP’s repeated alert that prominent APC officials in the National Assembly and a top official in the Presidency have been using ministers and other government functionaries to siphon budgeted funds from the national coffers.

“We ask, why did the APC leadership in the Senate not refer the matter to the appropriate Senate Standing Committee for an open investigation in line with the extant Rules of the Senate? What is the APC Senate leadership afraid of and what is it hiding from Nigerians?

“It is even more absurd that instead of recusing himself, the Senate President sat as a judge in the matter; a situation that has the capacity to bring the institution of the Senate to further public disrepute.

“This is especially as the issues at hand heavily border on alleged gross misconduct and criminal betrayal of public trust which are serious offenses under our laws.

“Nigerians can now see why the APC leadership in the National Assembly, especially in the Senate continues to condone the unbridled looting of public resources including funds meant for palliatives for poor and vulnerable citizens.

“This apparent inclination towards covering up sleaze in the polity is already pitching the institution of the Senate against Nigerians who are demanding answers on the matter. Of course, the widely condemned suspension of Senator Ningi does not provide answers to the budget padding allegation.”

The PDP Spokesperson further added that, “It is indeed unfortunate and a huge smear on the image of the Senate, as the highest lawmaking and probity Institution in the country, that its Presiding Officer has found himself in a quagmire of alleged sleaze and betrayal of public trust.

“Our Party therefore stands with Senator Ningi for his courage in seeking probity and accountability in the polity.”

In his own separate reaction, Governor Bala Mohammed while speaking during a meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday, said that he is in support of Senator Ningi.

He said, “We will continue as opposition to the Federal Government but that will be done in our own modesty and that is not to disparage our country. Yesterday, I was very sad that the Senate suspended one of our best in Bauchi for telling the truth, for standing to be the beacon of truth –Senator Abdul Ningi.

“Equally I don’t know what we will do but we will discuss privately to see what we can do to support him because I support whatever he is doing. And that is the face of the opposition, especially if what he is saying is the truth. We will investigate that. I am not too quick to go to the media but, certainly, he has shown courage. He has shown he is from Bauchi and we have to be with him,” he said.