The Peoples Democratic Occasion on Wednesday demanded the resignation of the Chairman of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to allow an impartial investigation into the alleged padding of the 2024 funds to the tune of N3.7 trillion.
The accusation of funds padding was made by the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi.
Ningi, in a media interview, claimed that whereas the funds permitted by the Nationwide Meeting for the 2024 monetary 12 months was N25 trillion, the funds applied by the presidency was N28.7 trillion.
Nonetheless, throughout the plenary session on Tuesday, the Senate adopted Ningi to defend the accusation, after which he was punished with a three-month suspension for damaging the picture of the Pink Chamber over what senators thought of a baseless accusation.
Reacting on Wednesday, the PDP, in a press release by its Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed assist for the suspended senator.
The celebration sharply criticized the Senate management for suspending Ningi with out conducting a radical investigation into the funds padding situation he raised.
“The Peoples Democratic Occasion calls for that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instantly step apart and permit an impartial investigation into the allegation {that a} staggering N3.7tn was discreetly included within the 2024 funds for alleged failure to -existing initiatives.
“The celebration additionally calls for that Senator Akpabio instantly report back to the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee on the pending case of alleged plunder of N108 billion from the folks of Akwa Ibom State underneath his watch as Governor of the state.
“Moreover, the Senate President ought to communicate out on the reported N86bn contract rip-off within the Niger Delta Improvement Fee throughout his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,” Ologunagba stated.
PDP described the suspension of Senator Ningi as a determined try and suppress investigations, disguise the information and sweep them underneath the carpet.
The opposition celebration added: “We surprise: why did the APC management within the Senate not refer the matter to the suitable Standing Committee of the Senate for an open investigation in accordance with the present Guidelines of the Senate? What does the APC Senate management concern and what’s it hiding from Nigerians?
“It’s much more absurd that the President of the Senate, as an alternative of convicting himself, acted as a decide within the case, a state of affairs that has the potential to additional discredit the establishment of the Senate.
“That is primarily as a result of the problems at hand border closely on alleged gross misconduct and legal betrayal of public belief, that are severe offenses underneath our legal guidelines.
“This obvious tendency to cowl up the sleaze within the polity is already pitting the establishment of the Senate towards Nigerians who’re demanding solutions on this situation. After all, the extensively condemned suspension of Senator Ningi doesn’t reply the accusation of funds padding.
“It’s certainly unlucky and an enormous stain on the picture of the Senate, as the very best legislative and equity establishment of the land, that the presiding officer finds himself in a quagmire of perceived sleaze and betrayal of public belief.
“Our celebration, subsequently, stands with Senator Ningi for his braveness in searching for equity and accountability inside the polity.”
