Borno Indigenes Protest Ndume’s Suspension at NASS, Say ‘Saraki is a Curse’By Jide Afolabi, Jos

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

Thousands of protesters who claimed to be indigenes of Borno state earlier today blocked the entrance to the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended senator Ali Ndume.

The former majority leader of the Senate is representing Borno-South in the Senate.

Ndume was suspended last week by the Senate for causing investigations into allegations of forgery against the senate president, Mr. Bukola Saraki, and Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West.

Saraki was alleged of importing a Range Rover SUV without paying appropriate import duty, and attempting to clear the vehicle with falsified papers while Mr. Melaye was accused of falsely claiming to have graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU).

Both Saraki and Melaye were summoned to appear before Committee on Privilege matters. The two were absolved of all the allegations in what many Nigerians described as a “mere arrangement”. The Committee dismissed both allegations.

At the Senate plenary last week, the upper chamber sanctioned Ndume by suspending him for six months for raising unsubstantiated allegations against the accused.

Governor Shetima of Borno State last Friday, led several Borno politicians to Saraki’s Abuja residence in a move to get Ndume reinstated.

The protesters who claimed to be natives of Southern Borno Senatorial District which Ndume represents, but lives in Masaka and Mararaba areas of Abuja, arrived the National Assembly gate early Tuesday, with different placards with one targeting the Senate President, Mr. Saraki reads: “Saraki is a curse”.

It is not immediately clear if the Senate would reverse itself and reinstate Ndume as a result of pressures from both politicians and many Nigerians including senior lawyers like Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who posited that the suspension was “illegal”.