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How Senate attempted to outsmart court ruling over Ndume’s suspension

Published

9 years ago

November 14, 2017

The Senate has finally recalled its former Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, who was suspended following the recommendation of the ethics and privileges committee of the Senate headed by Chris Anyanwu eight months ago.

His recall letter, from the Senate, was however dated four days before the court judgement that nullified the suspension.

The upper house extended Ndume’s suspension that was supposed to have ended in September—to November. The Borno APC senator they went to court.

His travailed began when he raised a point of order in Narch by asking the Senate to look into allegations against Sen. President Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye as published in the Nigerian media then.

Anyawu’s committee was asked to investigate the allegation.

“Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it is supposed to,” he said at the time,” Ndume said then.

However, at the conclusion of its assignment, the committee accused Ndume of raising a false alarm capable of tarnishing the image of his colleagues.

He was placed on six months suspension.

However in September, when the six months was deemed to have passed, the Senate issued a statement extending the suspension to November, on the excuse of discounting holidays and weekends.

A Federal High Court last week nullified the suspension, saying it was illegal. The court also ordered Ndume’s immediate reinstatement and payment of all his entitlements for the period of the suspension.

However, the Senate through its counsel, Mike Ozekhome, said on Sunday that it would appeal the ruling.

ALSO SEE: Ndume floors Saraki, Senate; gets backlog of allowance

In a letter addressed to Mr. Ndume by the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, he was asked to resume in plenary on Wednesday (tomorrow).

“The suspension notice of the Senate vide Resolution S/Res/130/02/17 expires on November 14th, 2017.

“This communication is to inform the Distinguished Senator of your resumption in plenary scheduled for Wednesday, 15th November, 2017,” the clerk wrote.

The letter dated November 6 came four days before the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified Ndume’s suspension.