Ndume escapes suspension from senate over ‘kleptocrats’ allegation

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, on Wednesday narrowly escaped a process that could have led to his suspension from the senate.

Cyril Fasuyi, the senator representing Ekiti north, raising a point order, said Ndume breached his privilege with the comments in a recent interview.

During the interview on Arise Television, the Borno senator alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is populated by kleptocrats.

Fasuyi’s motion came after Ndume had been removed as the chief whip of the senate.

He wanted the senate to refer his motion to the committee on ethics and public petitions to handle.

The ethics committee could recommend the suspension of Ndume if he is found guilty.

“It happened over the weekend, on the allegation, blanket allegation, by Senator Ali Ndume that everyone of us are thieves. That is a very blanket statement,” the lawmaker said.

“I need a lot of explanation to my children and my loved ones. They want an explanation on the inference of what senator Ali Ndume said about all of us in government.

“This is not good for our image. It is not good for me and I think that statement is a breach of my privilege. I want to implore this senate in a matter of days for him to come categorically with evidence of the people whom he referred to as kleptocrats.

“My second prayer is that this statement has put me under public ridicule in my constituency. I would like this matter of privilege to be referred to the committee on ethics.”

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remove Ndume as chief whip was enough deterrent for his outburst.

“He did not say you are a thief, he said all of you in government are kleptocrats. A thief is different,” Akpabio said.

“My opinion will be that the party has taken the appropriate action.”

While putting a question to vote, the senate president said: “Is it the view of the senate that the action of the APC has taken care of these vituperations?”

The “ayes” were in the majority.