Chaos erupted in the Senate on Tuesday when Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a Point of Order which led to a heated exchange with Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe from Cross River North.

The disagreement stemmed from allegations made by Senator Abdul Ningi regarding a possible N3 trillion budget padding in the N28.7 trillion 2024 Appropriation Act. The Senate floor saw divided opinions on the issue, with Senator Jarigbe claiming that some senior Senators received N500 million each, while denying receiving any himself.

Amidst the turmoil, Senate President Godswill Akpabio attempted to restore order. Senator Ningi, in a previous interview, had raised concerns about the disparity between the budget approved by the National Assembly and the one being implemented by the Presidency. The Senate, however, through its spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, denied any padding in the budget and emphasized that the budget approval processes were transparent.