24hrs after suspending Ndume, Senators desert chamber

Barely twenty four hours after Senators hurriedly suspended the immediate-past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, lawmakers have deserted the chamber.

Unlike Wednesday where the number of lawmakers who attended plenary, the chamber is almost empty. A rough head count of lawmakers in the chamber, shows that there are less than 30 as at the time of this report.

Whereas, there were over 70 members on Wednesday when 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. That 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 from today, 29th of March, 2017 to last for 181 legislative days.”

But 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.

The suspension took immediate effect and will elapse on the 29th of September, 2017. Ndume was not on the floor of the Senate when the decision was taken by lawmakers.

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