Standup9ja: Senate Suspends Ex-leader Ali Ndume For 6 Months

Standup9ja: Senate Suspends Ex-leader Ali Ndume For 6 Months

The Senate on Wednesday suspended former Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, for six months.

The lawmakers at the upper chamber dealt Ndume with the suspension for not “making due diligence” before filing a petition against the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye.

The former leader had asked for investigation of allegations of importing a bullet proof range rover with fake documents involving Saraki and that of perjury involving Melaye.

The Senate agreed on the decision today at the plenary after the resolution to uphold the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges chaired by Samuel Anyanwu.

Ndume is now suspended for six months instead of the one year originally recommended by the ethics committee with the suspension to take effect immediately.

The Senate had on March 21, decided to investigate the allegation that an armoured Range Rover car said to worth N298m – but which the lawmakers said cost $298,000, and was seized by the Nigeria Customs Service – belongs to Saraki.

The investigation 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.

However, Mr. Anyanwu, whose committee convened investigative hearing on the two matters on Monday, reported that Mr. Ndume failed to conduct proper investigation before making “the allegations”.