Falana, in the letter, said Akpabio acted as the accuser, prosecutor and judge in the case against Ningi.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s media aide, Eyiboh Eseme, has said that the Senate, not Akpabio, suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) for three months.
Eseme stated this on Thursday in response to the letter Ningi wrote through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), where he gave the Red Chamber a seven-day ultimatum to lift the suspension or face litigation.
In the letter received by Akpabio’s office on Wednesday, Falana wrote: “On March 9, 2024, our client granted an interview to the BBC Hausa Service on the 2024 Appropriation Act. He expressed his views on the budget of the Federal Government in the exercise of his fundamental right to freedom of speech guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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“Dissatisfied with the interview, you caused our client to be put on trial before the Senate on March 14, 2024 contrary to the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2018.”
Falana, in the letter, said Akpabio acted as the accuser, prosecutor and judge in the case against Ningi, saying this was in violation of the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
Responding to this, Eyiboh told PUNCH: “The Senate is an institution created by law and not by man.
“Distinguished Senator Ningi was suspended by the Senate and not by any individual. To associate any individual’s name to Senator Ningi’s travail is delusional and a red herring.”
