The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has issued Senate President, Godswill Akpabio a 7-day ultimatum within which he’s to reinstate the suspended Senator representing Bauchi-North, Abdul Ningi.
SERAP, which wrote the letter to the Senate urged Senate President to urgently refer the allegations that lawmakers padded the 2024 Budget by irregularly inserting projects worth N3.7 trillion to EFCC and ICPC for investigation and prosecution.
Tinubu was also asked to refer the allegations of budget-padding and irregularities for which the senator was suspended to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).
In the letter, dated 16 March 2024 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Referring these allegations to appropriate anticorruption agencies would be consistent with the lawmakers’ oath of office and the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).
“What Senator Ningi has done is a positive act of good citizenship. No whistle-blower should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure”, the letter, read in part.
