—-As Senate Clears Saraki, Melaye
The Senate has suspended Senator Ali Ndume for six months for making unverified and hurtful allegations against his colleagues: the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye last week during plenary.
His suspension follows the adoption of Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges report which recommended that Senator Ndume be suspended for one legislative year.
Ndume, the immediate past Senate Leader had last week drawn the attention of the senate at plenary to a media publication which reported that “the Senate President, Bukola Saraki bought SUV bullet proof Jeep worth N370 million without paying it’s Custom duties.”
In his motion, calling for investigation of the alleged importation, he further called for investigation of Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi East Senatorial district, for an alleged non-graduation from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as by Sahara Reporters.
After consideration of the Senator Anyanwu led Committee report at the plenary presided by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the Senate resolved that Ndume be suspended though for a period of six months instead of a year recommended by the committee.
The Committee had in its report cleared the Senate President and Dino Melaye.
Ali Ndume had been the Senate Majority leader after the 2015 elections and was impeached by the APC Senators on 10 January, 2017
He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011 and elected to the Senate for Borno South, Borno State, in April 2011 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket.
The Senate suspension of Ndume was almost similar to the indefinite suspension handed down to Former Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe for allegedly defrauding it to the tune of N22,082,000, in 2002.
The then Senate presided by former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim also unanimously passed a resolution handing over the case to the police for detailed investigations.
In a motion, the Senate said in accordance with its rules, Nzeribe will remain suspended until he supplies evidence that “he has purged himself of his anti-democratic, anti-senatorial and disreputable conduct.”
Arthur Nzeribe’s suspension marked the end of his political carreer as he never returned till end of life of that senate.
