The Nigerian Senate Tuesday recalled its suspended member, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Zamfara Central Senatorial district. The recall precedes a court ruling in which the 90-day suspension was declared illegal. However, the senate has appealed the ruling and vowed to sustain it.
Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, announced Ndume’s recall at Tuesday plenary, but said it is “without prejudice” to the appellate suit.
“In the closed-door session, the senate also discussed the suspension of Ali ndume and resolved that he should resume sitting in Wednesday 15th November 2017 since he has served his suspension of 90 legislative days without prejudice to the current court processes,” said Ekweremadu.
The Zamfara senator ostensibly incurred the wrath of the power-wielders after he discountenanced the senate rejection of Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ndume had told journalists the senate was yet to take a definitive stand on Magu, who appeared disliked by many senators. The senate swiftly countered Ndume, and what followed was his unceremoniously removal as Majority Leader. Ndume turned to accuse Senator Bukola Saraki, president of Senate, of betrayal. He claimed to have stood by Saraki – apparently at the time the latter snookered his party to emerge senate president.
Following, Senator Ndume quickly assumed the position of a moral police, urging the senate to probe allegation of illegal shipment of an armoured Range Rover linked to Senator Saraki. He equally called for a probe into the allegation that Senator Dino Melaye falsified his academic qualification from the Ahmadu Bello University.
Saraki responded in kind, culminating in the suspension of Senator Ndume and crowning of Senator Ahmed Lawan, a former establishment candidate for senate presidency.
Fola Ademosu
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