In the history of Nigeria, there have been many political turmoil that either aggravate into something else or never get resolved. One out of many cases in Nigerian politics is the suspension of senators on the floor of the country’s upper legislative chamber. Over the years, some federal lawmakers have raised issues concerning and dear to their hearts but eventually turned sour with such senators getting suspended based on the agreement of the other members of the Senate.
The recent suspension is that of Senator Ahmed Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District. But his wasn’t the first time. In this article, I’ll take you down the memory lane – discussing suspended Senators right from Nigeria’s transition into full democracy in 1999.
1. Femi Okurounmu
The first senator that was suspended is Femi Okurounmu. Femi Okurounmu was represented Ogun Central Constituency under the Alliance of Democracy (AD) from 1999 to 2003. He was appointed into the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Affairs.
Before he became a senator, Okurounmu was the commissioner for works, Ogun state. He was also a Secretary-General to Afenifere, apex Yoruba socio-political group. His suspension from the Senate came in 1999, after he alleged that senators were planning to impeach the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
2. Joseph Waku
Joseph Waku, born in 1947 was a native of Guma Local Government Area, Benue state. He was an alumni of London Institute of Public Relations. He was appointed Director of Research and Publicity of the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) in 1979. From here, Waku became a member of board of directors of Plateau Publishing Company and member of Benue state House of Assembly, 1980 and 1983 respectively.
After taking oath of office as a Senator representing Benue North West constituency, Joseph was appointed to Committees on Senate Services, Works and Housing, Health, Establishment, Water Resources and Privatization. In the year 2000, he made a controversial statement about Olusegun Obasanjo. He said it was better to return to the era of military coup than to have Obasanjo continue his leadership as a dictator. Waku said the administration is the worst Nigeria ever had.
His views were highly condemned and immediately, he was suspended from the upper chamber. Joseph Waku was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari as Pro-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state. He died on February 3, 2019.
3. Arthur Nzeribe
Arthur Nzeribe was born in oguta, Imo state on November 2 1938. He was a business mogul and well known politician in Nigeria; especially among his people. He studied Technology at Chesterfield College of Technology in England.
Before Nzeribe delved fully into politics, he was into property investment, oil brokerage and construction. In 1983, he ran for a Senatorial seat with the slogan “change 83”. Nzeribe won under the platform of the Nigerian Peoples Party. In 1999, he was elected to represent Orlu constituency in the Senate. And he was there until 2007. During his tenure as a Senator, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health; he masterminded the scheme — National Health Insurance.
In 2002, he was suspended from the National Assembly by the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim for an alleged N22 million fraud. Arthur Nzeribe died on May 5 2022.
4. Isa Mohammed
Isa Mohammed was born in 1948. He’s a native of Niger state – precisely Niger South Constituency – of which he represented from 1999 to 2007. His election was on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed was appointed Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. In October 2004, he was suspended for slapping his fellow senator, Iyabo Anisulowo. This incident was linked to a dispute over disbursal of committee’s funds.
He actually apologized to Anisulowo, her family, all women and the entire House of Legislature. According to Isa Mohammed, his action was the devil’s work.
5. Ali Ndume
Ali Ndume was born on November 20 1959 in Gwoza, Borno state. He attended Gadamayo Primary School, Gwoza and Comprehensive Secondary School Mubi, the then Gongola State. Ndume proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic in 1978 where he studied Marketing. For his compulsory Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he served at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun state.
Afterwards, Ndume became a lecturer at Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri in 1983. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded him a scholarship in 1988 for a Postgraduate Scholarship to study Business and Computer Education at the University of Toledo, Ohio. He graduated with B.Ed and M.ED in 1990; awarded Magna Cum Laude academic honour.
Ndume came back to Nigeria to continue his teaching at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro; until 2003 when he joined politics. That same year (2003), he was elected to represent Gwoza Federal Constituency in the House of Representative for eight years and became the minority leader during this period.
Ali Ndume is currently the Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly, representing Borno South Senatorial District. Before now, he was the Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2017. Ali raised a concern in 2017 after he was impeached as majority leader; he requested for an investigation of an alleged importation of bullet proof range rover with fake documents by the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye (Senator representing Kogi West).
The Committee for Ethics and Privileges chaired by Samuel Anyanwu, frowned at the claims because it lacked proper investigation. The committee agreed on a one year suspension for Ndume but was later reduced to six months.
6. Ovie Omo-Agege
Ovie Omo-Agege was born August 3, 1963 in Delta state. He’s a native of Orogun clan of the Urhobo ethnic group in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta state. He studied Law at the University of Benin; and was called to the bar in 1986. Ovie obtained a Masters from Tulane University Law School.
His career as a legal practitioner started in 1987 at Pat Okupa & Co in Lagos. He moved and worked in the United States of America as a foreign associate at a law firm called Charles O. Agege. On his return to Nigeria in 1992, he partnered with a law firm to establish Agege & Esin.
His journey into the National Assembly began in 2015 when he was elected to represent Delta Central Senatorial District. As a federal lawmaker, in 2018, Ovie made a statement at a press conference that the amendment of 2010 Electoral Act which would change the sequence of election in Nigeria is targeted at the then President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges recommended 181 legislative days of suspension for Omo-Agege but the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki reduced it to 90 legislative days.
7. Ahmed Ningi
The newest lawmaker to join this list of suspended Senators is the recently suspended Ahmed Ningi. Ahmed Ningi was born on April 20, 1960 in Ningi, Bauchi state. He attended Ningi Easy Primary School and Government Secondary School, Misau. Ningi obtained B.Sc. in Sociology from Ahmadu Bello University in 1983. After completing his mandatory service year (NYSC) in Kano, he got a job with Bauchi state government as a Social Welfare Officer.
Subsequently, he was promoted to secretary of Bauchi Rent Tribunal. Ningi became a member of the House of Representatives in 1999. In the course of this, he chaired some committees such as the House sub-committee on NAFDAC, House sub-committee on Teachers Education and House Committee on Solid Minerals.
He also served as the Majority leader in his second tenure (2003-2007) as member of the lower chamber. The House sub-committee on Nigeria Football Association from 2003 to 2007 was in his care. Later on, Ningi was ordained as a member of Inter Parliamentary Union, Pan-African Parliament and Commonwealth Parliamentary Union. He currently represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Recently, Ningi granted an interview with BBC Hausa that sparked a debate in the Senate. He accused the leadership of the Senate of budget padding and that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is operating two budgets. He was eventually suspended for three months following the public attention the issue had received.
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