Barely 24 hours after the Saraki-led Senators hurriedly suspended the immediate past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, majority of the Senators have deserted the Red Chamber.
Unlike Wednesday, where a good number of distinguished Senators attended plenary, the Chamber is almost empty today, Thursday. A rough head count of Lawmakers in the Chamber, shows that there are less than 30 Senators present, as at the time of filing this report. Whereas, there were over 70 Senators on Wednesday, when the Lawmakers considered the Ethics Committee report, which recommended a six months suspension for Ndume.
Recall, that Ndume was suspended on Wednesday, following the adoption of a report submitted by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
In the report, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, recommended that Ndume be suspended for 181 Legislative calendar days, which translates to about one year.
Anyanwu had read: “This story was cooked up with the intent to embarrass the Senate President, the Senate, and by extension, the National Assembly. The complainant did not conduct due diligence before bringing the matter to the floor of the Senate.
“As a former Senate Leader and a ranking Senator, he was expected to have weighed the consequences, of the allegation, and carefully investigated it before presenting it.
“Having failed to cross-check facts before presentation at plenary, he could not be said to be a patriotic representative of the Senate, and should be penalized to serve as deterrent to others.
“After due consideration of the matter as revealed by different parties to the case, the Committee recommends as follows.
“We recommend that the Senate do suspend Mohammed Ali Ndume, for bringing Senator Dino Melaye, his colleague, and the institution of the Senate, to unbearable disrepute at this time of our national life, when caution, patriotism, careful consideration, and diligence, should be our watchword.
“The suspension is with immediate effect from today, 29th of March, 2017, to last for 181 Legislative days.”
However, proposing an amendment, which was carried by the Senate, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, suggested that the suspension period be reduced to six months. The amendment was carried by the Senate.
“My colleagues, I want to suggest that we reduce the period of suspension for Ali Ndume. In December, he was the Senate Leader. Let us reduce it for him. I suggest that we reduce it a period not more than six months,” Urhoghide said.
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