It was a rowdy session at the Senate on Tuesday as debate commenced on the case of alleged padding of the 2024 budget by over N3 million.

Recall that Senator Abdul Ningi had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of inserting non-existent projects of over N3 trillion into the 2024 budget.

The Bauchi lawmaker, who chairs the Northern Senators Forum, also alleged that there are two versions of the 2024 budget — one which was passed by the National Assembly and another which is currently being implemented by the Bola Tinubu government

Ningi was reported to have made the claims during a BBC Hausa Service interview at the weekend.

He, however, denied the reports on Monday, saying he was quoted out of context because he spoke in Hausa language.

But at the resumed plenary of the Senate on Tuesday, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Adeola Olamilekan, raised the issue through a motion, calling for the investigation of the claim by Ningi.

Senators engaged in a heated debate on the matter after it was seconded.

Senator Adamu Aliero, however, asked Akpabio to ensure fair hearing on the controversial matter.

“For me I think this is a very straightforward matter. We have a situation to be the stabiliser of the National Assembly,” Akpabio responded.