The sack of Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa State) as Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, generated further disagreements among senators on Thursday.
Rising under Point of Order, Ali Wakil (APC, Bauchi State) drew the attention of his colleagues that at no time did the Forum meet to take the decision to sack Adamu as its chairman.
The group comprises 58 senators from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Rising under Order 14 and 15 of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 (as amended), Wakil pointed out that members of the Forum never called a meeting to sack its Chairman.
Recall that Adamu’s removal was announced in a letter read by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, shortly before the end of plenary on Wednesday.
The letter signed by the Public Relations Officer of the forum, Dino Melaye, alleged that the ranking senator was removed for ‘financial mismanagement’ and other related matters.
“This is to inform the Senate that the majority signatories of members of the Northern Senators Forum. We have removed Senator Abdullahi Adamu as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum for financial mismanagement and misadministration.
“We announce his replacement with Senator Aliyu Wamakko immediately. Find the attached names and signatories of members,” the letter read.
But speaking with journalists after plenary, a member of the Forum representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, explained that the senator was removed for misappropriating N70 million in the Forum’s coffers handed over to him by the Treasurer of the Forum in the 7th Senate and current Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan.
He told journalists that monkeys raided the farmhouse of the senator and carted away the funds.
Ekweremadu who also presided over plenary on Thursday, did not allow for any debate on the matter. He simply said, ‘Noted’.
But refusing to allow the matter to die, Senate Spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, absolved himself of any blame, saying he refused to comment on the issue when he briefed journalists on Wednesday.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
