Senate Suspensions: A look back since 1999

The Senate has seen its fair share of suspensions over the years, with notable figures facing consequences for various reasons. 

The Nigerian Senate has seen its fair share of suspensions over the years, with notable figures facing consequences for various reasons. Here’s a glimpse into some of the significant suspensions that have occurred since 1999:

Senator Joseph Waku (PDP, Benue North West)

A notable suspension at the senate was that of the former Senator Joseph Waku (PDP, Benue North West) during the 4th Assembly (1999-2003). He was referred to as a controversial politician.

As one who ought to champion the progress of democracy, Waku, in 2000, called for a military coup as an alternative to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s leadership saying Obasanjo’s government was the worst Nigeria had ever produced.

His remarks sparked widespread condemnation and Waku was immediately suspended from the upper chamber.

Despite this, the lawmaker continued to criticize the former president. In 2016, he asserted that President Muhammadu Buhari should investigate Obasanjo if he genuinely aimed to combat corruption.

“I have influence within the government. I have access to Mr. President. I informed Mr. President that in order for the corruption investigation of previous administrations to be meaningful, probing Obasanjo is essential. Corruption in Nigeria was initiated by Obasanjo,” Waku stated in an interview.

In 2018, despite being a registered member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Waku acted in opposition to his party and described the Osun governorship election as fraudulent, urging Gboyega Oyetola, the declared winner of the election, to publicly admit to the irregularities.

He also declared that the ruling party, APC, may not be lucky to rule Nigeria for 16 years like his former party.

He died on February 3, 2019

Francis Arthur Nzeribe (PDP, Imo West) 

Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe (PDP, Imo West) also got suspended during the 4th Assembly.

Nzeribe was suspended for nine months over allegations of a N22 million fraud under the leadership of then-Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.

He was a second republican politician, a multi-billionaire investment mogul born in Oguta, Imo State and was elected Senator for the Imo Orlu constituency in 1999 and was reelected in 2003.

He has been described as one of the history makers in the political firmament of Nigeria due to his controversial roles in the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by late Bashorun MKO Abiola.

He founded a political group known as Association of Better Nigeria (ABN) that was used to scuttle the third republic and annul the June 12, 1993 Presidential election as it filed a case in court to halt the election. Nzeribe passed on May 5, 2022.

Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South)

Senator Ali Ndume has been a notable figure in the National Assembly where he served as a member of the House of Representatives representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza federal constituency from 2003 to 2011. In 2007 he was elected as the Minority Leader of the House in the 6th Assembly.

Upon his move to the Senate in 2011 as Senator representing Borno South, he has served as Majority Leader from 2015 to 2017 and is currently the Senate Majority Chief Whip in the 10th Senate.

The suspension of Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) in 2017 was another intriguing event in the 8th Assembly (2015-2019), Ndume was suspended for six months over false allegations against then-Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.

Ndume had called for the probe of his colleagues after a publication in national dailies reported that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki bought an SUV bulletproof Jeep worth N370 million without paying its customs duties.

Also, the Borno Senator had demanded that Melaye be probed for certificate forgery.

He was accused of bringing Senator Melaye, Senate President Saraki and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute by the report of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges which was directed to investigate the matter.

In the report, the committee recommended that Senator Ndume be suspended for 181 sitting days and the Senate cleared Saraki and Melaye of the allegations.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central)

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege served as the Deputy President of the Senate in the 9th Assembly. He was the senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023 until his venture into the governorship race of his state under the platform of APC where he eventually lost out at the poll.

In 2018 Senator Omo-Agege’s comments on election reordering during the 8th Assembly led to his suspension. The Senate Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics, and Privileges recommended his suspension for 181 legislative days but the chamber reduced it to 90 legislative days.

Omo-Agege who admitted his guilt on the floor of the chamber apologising to the leadership and the entire senate later changed his mind and went to court to contest the Senate’s decision to probe his allegations. He sought clarification on whether the Senate had the jurisdiction to investigate and take disciplinary action against a senator whose case was already in court.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court nullified the suspension of Ovie Omo-Agege from the Senate asserting that both the Senate’s resolution on the suspension and the procedural approach adopted by the National Assembly were constitutionally flawed.

Furthermore, the judge determined that according to constitutional provisions, the Senate is permitted to suspend its members for a maximum of 14 days. Consequently, the judge declared the Senate’s decision to suspend Omo-Agege for 90 days as null and void.

As a result, the court immediately revoked Omo-Agege’s suspension mandating the payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances owed to the senator.

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central)

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) is the first lawmaker to be suspended in the 10th Assembly.

Ningi was suspended for three months over his allegations of a N3.7 trillion padding of the national budget.

His ordeal started after his interview with the BBC House Service where he claimed that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was operating on two separate budgets.

His actions angered some of his colleagues from Northern Senators Forum who refuted the claims and that Senator Ningi was speaking his personal view despite being the chairman of the forum.

The upper legislative chamber suspended the lawmaker after a motion on privilege was moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Ogun West).