Mr Umeh Kalu (SAN), counsel for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that the decision and resolution to suspend Senenator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) was that of the Senate sitting in plenary and not that of Akpabio.

Kalu stated this in a letter to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) titled, “Re: Request to Lift the Suspension of Sen. Abdul Ningi” and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Ningi was suspended by the Senate for three months on March 12 over the 2024 Budget padding allegation.

Kalu in the letter said, “We are solicitors to Sen. Godswill Akpabio and write you in respect of the above subject matter at his instance.

“Your letter of March 27, with the above caption has been referred to us with instructions to react thereto.

“We have carefully read through your analysis of the facts and circumstances leading to your client’s suspension from the Senate.

“We are unable to find reason in your verdict of our client’s sole culpability in the said suspension. We therefore plead non est factum for our client. ”

The letter further read, “In addition to the above and contrary to the contents of your letter under reference, our client was at no time your client’s accuser, prosecutor and
judge.

“Our client’s role at the session of the Senate that led to your client’s suspension was and remains the statutory role of a Legislative House Presiding Officer, which role equally includes pronouncing the majority decision of the Legislative House at the end of debate and voting.

“Permit us to mention your attempt at drawing our client’s attention to legal authorities and pronouncements of our courts of record on the unconstitutionality of suspending members of Legislative Houses.

“Which attempt we dare say was unhelpful, due to your failure or refusal to make available, the relevant particulars of the said court decisions in your letter.

“You may wish to provide these legal authorities which you have alluded to, bearing in mind that every decision of a court emanates from its peculiar facts, circumstances and extant laws.

“In as much as it may not be necessary to canvass herein all the remedies available to our client, in response to your threats of a court action and petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), it is important we mention that legislative proceedings are guided by rules.

“We urge you to give due consideration to the legal issues raised in this letter and be guided accordingly in your further and future action in respect of this matter.”

Paraman:


https://punchng.com/senate-not-akpabio-suspended-ningi-counsel-replies-falana/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social

shortgun:
Lawless rascals, the senate doesn't have the power to suspend a senator or any legislator.
I wonder the version of the constitution these miscreants read

successmatters:
The summary of this long epistle is, Akpabio is afraid of the northern power brokers, who may be speaking through Falana.

Next topic o jare

Chicagograduate:
There was no investigation of Akpabio s budget padding before Ningi was suspended.He was not summon to defend the allegation in the floor of the senate chamber like they do during ministerial screening and budget defence.
Akpabio is a thief.

Laurene:
I wonder too.
His electorate voted him into power and they alone should recall or remove him.

What's the need of going to vote in Nigeria when judges determine who finally holds the mantle?

Of what use is the people's votes when a bunch of charlatans can disenfranchise a whole constituent by suspending their leader without their endorsement?

successmatters:
The summary of this long epistle is, Akpabio is afraid of the northern power brokers, who may be speaking through Falana.

Next topic o jare

broadman20:



You forgot that the senate has rules and regulations guiding her which is empowered by the law of the federal republic of NIGERIA.

successmatters:
The summary of this long epistle is, Akpabio is afraid of the northern power brokers, who may be speaking through Falana.

Next topic o jare

malali:
Thats how you know a weak leader.

Tinubu did not say Nigerians removed oil subsidy, not me.

Tinubu did not say Nigerians removed dollar subsidy, not me.

Tinubu did not say Nigerians removed electricity tariffs, not me.

When e reach Akpabio turn, he bucked and defaulted the blame to "The senate"

Akpabio you are in charge of the senate, anything that happens in the senate, you shoud be able to defend it with logical explanations. Not passing the buck to others.Those are signs of a weak leader.

Kingpele:
There's no country that have the kind of citizens we have without having wicked leaders. This man exposed official corruption within the budget and got suspended yet citizens kept quite...I thought what the senate should have done will be to clear the areas he raised...explaining to citizens how such huge amounts allocated to same areas repeatedly will be implemented without any corrupt practices...or acknowledge the error within the budget and remove the padded part of the budget...suspending a senator who came to the chamber of senate the same way u guys came in .without clear evidence of error in what he said is undemocratic and evil...yet the so called friends of the country (enemies in disguise) won't see anything wrong with what the senate did to one of their own...others have now decided to avoid, talking about what they know about the budget.same budget which impart will be felt by the citizens and residents of this great nation ...

Laurene:
Which law is that? Which part of the constitution?
If there's any, there should be a process where the matter is debated and deliberated before a vote call is brought to the floor where it's decided.

Not some bunch of agbada-wearing fascists deciding to disenfranchise quarter of a state's electorate.