Pro-Ndume Protesters Demand Reinstatement of Suspended Senator

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
Protesters on Tuesday besieged the main gate of the National Assembly, demanding the reinstatement of the senator representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, who was last week suspended for six months by the Senate.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Southern Borno Global Initiative, had blocked the main gate as early as 8.30a.m. causing vehicles driving into the premises to be diverted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federaation and Presidential Villa gates.

They also issued a three-day ultimatum to the Senate to withdraw the suspension, failure of which they threatened legal action to uphold the right of the senatorial district to representation.

Policemen of the FCT Police Command were on ground to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order.
Ndume was suspended last week after the Senate Committee on Ethics indicted him for dragging the institution of the Senate into disrepute.

Ndume, penultimate week, had raised a point of order, citing an online news medium report which was rehashed by a daily newspaper (not THISDAY).

He had noted that the integrity of the Senate was being questioned following the report that the lawmakers were on a vengeance mission against the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hammeed Ali (rtd), due to the seizure of a bullet- proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle ( SUV) allegedly owned by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Ndume also noted that the report claimed that Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) does not have a first degree from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), and urged the Senate to investigate the allegations.

Saraki and Melaye appeared before the committee alongside Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Ibrahim Garba; the car importer, Mr. Tokunbo Akindele, and the dealer, Mr. Olanrewaju Shittu, who cleared them of the allegations.
The protesters however said the action of Ndume does not justify the suspension slammed on him.

In an open letter to Saraki, the President of the group, Mr. Musa Ali Gwoza, urged the Senate to reconsider its position.