2024 budget Allegation: Senator Ningi could face suspension after denying comments attributed to him

Senator Abdul Ningi, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly has denied saying the 2024 budget was padded.

Recall on Monday, Ningi dominated the news cycle after he indicted the National Assembly for padding the 2024 budget by a whooping sum of three trillion naira.

At the presser, Ningi told journalists he never said the president was running two budgets but said there was N3.7tn yet to be accounted for.

He, however, denied the comment during the Senate open session in Abuja, describing the comments attributed to him as fake.

“I have never said somebody was blinded. Secondly, I have never said the budget was padded,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator told his colleagues.

“Let me concur to about 80 percent of the translation read out by Senator Yayi. I think they have done a fair job, except on some issues they could not understand.

“The beginning of this brouhaha started with this text. Senator Abdu Ningi is purported to be the author of this document. Let me for the avoidance of doubt, I have never issued a statement of this nature to anybody anywhere and anytime.

“I want members of this Senate to record it, this is a fake observation that was forwarded, I do not know the author of this.”

Before the commencement of the plenary, a mild drama played out at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen Olamileken Adeola, stormed into the chamber and was visibly angry by the development, Channels TV said.

Speaking in a high tone, Adeola who represents Ogun West in the National Assembly said: “No closed door, let’s do it open”.

Meanwhile, Senator Ningi could be arrested for the allegation.