Senate Set to Boil as Ali Ndume Faces Suspension Over What Lawmakers Described as 'Unparliamentary' Utterances

The latest series on controversies trailing the Nigerian Senate, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and outspoken senator, Dino Melaye, is set to take a new twist as Senator Ndume, reportedly faces suspension over his comments.

The Senate during plenary

 

Fresh crisis may hit the Senate over moves to sanction immediate-past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, for what lawmakers described as “unparliamentary” utterances.

 

This is coming at a time senators have resolved to investigate Senate President, Bukola Saraki over alleged importation of bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) impounded by the Customs and Senator Dino Melaye over alleged certificate forgery.

 

Daily Sun exclusively reported that plans had reached advanced stage to move against Ndume, who, of late, has been making comments against positions taken by the Senate on issues.

 

It is believed that senators against Ndume are reaching out to others, with Senator Melaye as the arrowhead.

 

Ndume incurred the wrath of some senators when he protested the rejection of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate.

 

Ndume, protested the approach adopted by the Senate, said Saraki erred by accepting a report not signed by the Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

 

Referring to a similar letter written to the Senate President by an Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), on behalf of the Col. Hameed Ali, Ndume queried why Saraki declined to read the letter, but accepted a similar one from the DSS.

 

The former senate leader, after the second rejection of Magu, granted several press interviews where he openly criticised Saraki and the entire Senate for rejecting the acting EFCC chairman.

 

Unperturbed by moves against him, Ndume, yesterday, called for the investigation of Saraki over the face-off with the Comptroller General of Customs. He also want Melaye investigated over alleged certificate forgery.

 

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 Customs over claims that his bulletproof Ranger Rover Sport was impounded.

 

On the part of Melaye, Ndume said an online platform published a story that he did not obtain a degree in Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

 

Drawing instances from four scenarios, Ndume said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, was accused of certificate forgery and eventually cleared his name.

 

He said former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was also accused when he held sway as Senate boss, was investigated, just as current Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, when he was accused of certificate forgery.

 

He said Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was accused of not writing his Senior Secondary School Examination and was investigated, insisting that Saraki and Melaye should be investigated over the allegations.

 

Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with 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 bulletproof 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,” Ndume said, citing former National Assembly leaders that had been investigated in the past.