Ningi noted that Mandiya was preparing to attend the Friday congregational prayer when he slipped and hit his head.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, has disclosed that former lawmaker Senator Bello Mandiya reportedly died after slipping in his bathroom and hitting his head at his Abuja residence.
He made this known recently during Senate plenary, explaining that neighbours only discovered Mandiya’s lifeless body after a foul smell began emanating from his apartment.
According to Ningi, who claimed he was in Saudi Arabia when he received a telephone call from his son informing him of the incident, Mandiya’s body was discovered on Monday, 7 September 2026, about 72 hours after his fall.
He went on to say his late colleague had reportedly been preparing to attend the Friday congregational prayer when he slipped and hit his head after taking a bath.
“He brought out his cap, his phones, and put them on the bed, and went into the bathroom to take his bath. After taking his bath, when he was out of the bathroom, then he slipped and knocked his head in the bathroom,” Ningi said.
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The senator further explained that nobody initially realised what had happened until the smell from Mandiya’s apartment began spreading to neighbouring properties.
“For 72 hours, Mr President, nobody knew where Bello Mandiya was,” he told the Senate.
Ningi added that the Chief Imam of Apo also raised concerns after noticing that Mandiya, who regularly attended the five daily Muslim prayers with other worshippers, had been absent for three consecutive days.
The imam’s concern, combined with the foul smell coming from the apartment, prompted residents to investigate, force Mandiya’s door open, and discover his body in the bathroom.
While expressing sadness over the former senator’s death, Ningi noted that the incident was a reminder that nobody could predict when death would come.
