From FRED ITUA, Abuja

After over a month of shadow boxing, the axe fell on Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday, as the Senate handed him a six-month suspension over claims that his allegations against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye, brought the Red Chamber into disrepute.

The disciplinary action brought to a climax the face-off and bad blood between the former Majority Leader and a section of the Red Chamber.

Daily Sun, had last week Tuesday, exclusively reported that the Senate was hatching a plot to suspend Ndume.

Ndume, had called for the investigation of Saraki and Melaye over the face-off with the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) and certificate forgery allegation leveled against Melaye.

The Borno-born senator, who came under a motion of national importance, had said that Saraki, according to a story in an online medium, sanctioned the summon of the NCS boss, over claims that his bullet proof Ranger Rover Sport was impounded.

On the part of Melaye, he said that the online platform, published a story that the Kogi State-born Senator did not obtain a degree in Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Ndume said the allegations having attracted wild reactions from the public with heaps of abuses, it was necessary for the matter to be presented through order 14 and 15 for further investigations by the appropriate Committee.

Barely 48 hours after Saraki and Melaye appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, they were cleared of any wrongdoing.  The clean bill of health was sequel to submissions made by the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba that Melaye is a bonafide graduate of the institution.

Saraki, was also absolved of any wrong-doing by Lanre Shittu, who told the Ethics committee that he handled the transaction of the bullet proof Range Rover Sport vehicle, valued at about N62.5 million.

In its report, read by the chairman, Samuel Anyanwu, the Committee recommended the suspension of Ndume for 181 legislative calendar days, which approximates to about one year.

“After due consideration of the matter as revealed by different parties to the case, the committee recommends as follows:

“That the Senate do suspend Mohammed Ali Ndume for bringing Senator Dino Melaye, his colleague and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute at this time of our national life, when caution, patriotism, careful consideration and diligence should be our watchword.”

However, Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has described the suspension as the “height of serial illegality.”

Citing legal precedence to back his position, he said: “In Hon. Dino Melaye v House of Representatives (unreported) the plaintiffs were suspended indefinitely for requesting the corrupt leadership of the defendant. The  Federal High Court declared the indefinite suspension illegal and unconstitutional on the ground that a legislator could not be suspended for more than 14 days. But in House of Assembly v Hon. Danna the Court of Appeal held that a legislative house is not competent to suspend a member even for a single day as it is a violation of the democratic rights of members of his/her constituency.”