Ndume
Sen. Ali Ndume

The Nigerian Senate has suspended its former leader, Ali Ndume for six months.His suspension was recommended by the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions whom Ndume caused to investigate Senate President Bukola Saraki and the extraordinarily vocal senator from Kogi State, Dino Melaye.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Sam Anyanwu said  Ndume  failed to make proper investigations and lacked substantial evidence to back his claims that the senate president was being seen in some quarters as launching a war of vendetta against the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali. Ndume had on the open floor of the senate called for the investigation of Saraki whom he said allegedly sought to clear an expensive Range Rover  jeep (SUV) with fake documents. According to the allegation referred to by Ndume, the refusal by Customs to release the vehicle to Saraki was  the true reason the Senate had been after the Comptroller-General.

Ndume also alleged that some social media outfits had reported that Senator Melaye was not a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as he claimed. He therefore also called for the investigation of Melaye who is a strong  ally of Saraki.

The ethics committee’s investigation included the invitation of the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University to the Senate. The V.C. testified that Dino Melaye graduated from the institution.

The committee recommended a one year suspension for the lawmaker but after appeals by fellow senators on the floor of the Upper Chamber, it was reduced to six months.