Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, disputes claims that he was involved in Senator Abdul Ningi’s Senate suspension. On March 14, 2024, Ningi was placed under suspension after he accused the Senate leadership of inflating the federal budget for 2024.
Akpabio, through his attorney Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN, disagreed with the idea that Ningi is the only one responsible for his suspension in response to a letter from Ningi’s attorney, Femi Falana, SAN, requesting the lifting of Ningi’s suspension.
The Senate did not just assign Senator Akpabio the blame for the decision to suspend Senator Ningi during its plenary session.
In addition, our client did not act as your client’s accuser, prosecutor, or judge, despite what you claim in your letter.
“During the Senate session that resulted in your client’s suspension, our client fulfilled the statutory duties of a Legislative House Presiding Officer, which encompass declaring the majority decision of the Legislative House following debate and voting.”
Permit us to address your attempt to draw our client’s attention to court decisions and legal precedents pertaining to the unconstitutionality of suspending Legislative House members. We regret to inform you that your attempt was ineffective because the relevant information about these court decisions was missing from your letter.
“We urge you to furnish us with the specific legal authorities you referenced, keeping in mind that court decisions are contingent upon the unique facts, circumstances, and prevailing laws of each case.”
“While it may not be essential to enumerate all potential remedies at this juncture in response to your intimations of legal action and petitioning the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), it is crucial to underscore that legislative procedures are governed by rules, and legislators are entitled to certain privileges for their conduct during legislative sessions.”
