SAN FRANCISCO, March 29, (THEWILL) – The Senator representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has bagged six months suspension for not carrying out “due diligence” before filing a petition against the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye.
The suspension, which is to take immediate effect, came after the Upper Chamber considered the recommendation in the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
The Senate had, on March 21, 2017, decided to investigate the allegation that a bulletproof Range Rover SUV said to worth N298m, but which the lawmakers said cost $298,000, seized by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, belongs to the President of the Senate.
The move was based on a point of order raised by Ndume, who also called on the upper chamber of the National Assembly to investigate the certificate scandal involving Senator Dino Melaye.
The committee presented the report of its investigation on Wednesday, which recommended the suspension of Ndume for “deliberately” bringing up an issue that painted the Senate in a bad light.
It cleared Saraki of the allegation of taking vengeance on the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Hameed Ali, for seizing a vehicle purportedly belonging to him.
It also exonerated Dino Melaye of the allegation of forging his degree certificate.
The committee had recommended 181-legislative days suspension for Ndume but the Red Chamber reduced it to six months.
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