Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi has given an emotional account of how former Katsina South senator Bello Mandiya reportedly died alone in his Abuja residence, with his body remaining undiscovered for approximately three days. The Bauchi Central lawmaker described the circumstances as a painful reminder of life's uncertainty and the limitations of political influence, wealth and public status.
Speaking during Senate plenary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Ningi recounted how Mandiya, aged 62, was reportedly last seen on Friday, September 4, before suffering a fatal fall in the bathroom of his Abuja home. His body was discovered on Monday, September 7, after neighbours became concerned about his prolonged absence and an unpleasant smell coming from the residence.
“For 72 hours, Mr President, nobody knew where Bello Mandiya was,” Ningi told the Senate.
The senator explained that Mandiya had been living alone at the property and was preparing to attend the Friday congregational prayer when the incident reportedly occurred.
According to his account, a colleague had seen the former lawmaker at approximately 11 a.m. that Friday, shortly before Mandiya returned home.
Ningi said his friend had prepared his belongings for the prayer, including his cap and mobile telephones, before entering the bathroom.
He explained that Mandiya apparently slipped after bathing and struck his head, although the precise circumstances of the fall were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
No one was immediately aware that an emergency had occurred inside the residence.
The former senator's absence subsequently became noticeable because he was known to participate regularly in congregational prayers.
Ningi said the Chief Imam of Apo grew concerned after Mandiya failed to attend the five daily Muslim prayers for three consecutive days.
The religious leader's concern coincided with complaints from neighbours about an unpleasant smell coming from the apartment.
Residents eventually decided to investigate the property, where the former senator had not been seen for several days.
According to Ningi, those who went to the residence forced open the door and discovered Mandiya lying lifeless in the bathroom.
The senator said the discovery confirmed fears that something serious had happened to his friend.
Ningi was outside Nigeria when the news reached him.
He told colleagues that he was in Saudi Arabia when his son telephoned to inform him about Mandiya's death.
According to the lawmaker, his son was among those involved in discovering the body on September 7.
The account added a personal dimension to the Senate's remembrance of Mandiya, who had served alongside Ningi during the ninth National Assembly.
Ningi said he had known the deceased since 2002 and described their relationship as extending well beyond their years together in the legislature.
The senator reflected on how a person who had occupied important public offices could die without anyone immediately knowing what had happened.
He urged colleagues to remember that political authority, personal possessions and social standing could not prevent unexpected tragedy.
“There is nothing permanent about anything. Nothing permanent about our position, nothing permanent about our wealth,” he said.
The remarks formed part of a tribute in which Ningi expressed sympathy for Mandiya's family, former constituents and the people of Katsina State.
He also prayed for Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and provide comfort to those mourning him.
Mandiya represented Katsina South Senatorial District between 2019 and 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Before entering the Senate, he served as Chief of Staff to former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
His appointment placed him within the senior administrative leadership of the Katsina State Government before he pursued a legislative career.
In the 2019 general election, Mandiya secured the Katsina South senatorial seat and subsequently joined the ninth National Assembly.
During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Water Resources, participating in legislative oversight concerning water infrastructure and related federal responsibilities.
His service in the upper legislative chamber ended in 2023, following the completion of that parliamentary term.
Mandiya had earlier failed to secure his party's nomination for another term during the APC senatorial primary election in 2022.
Despite leaving office, he remained a former federal lawmaker whose death attracted condolences from political associates and government officials.
The Katsina State Government announced his death on September 7, with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda describing the loss as significant for the state and Nigeria.
Other political figures subsequently joined in paying tribute to the former senator and acknowledging his years in public service.
During the Senate's remembrance, former Abia State Governor and serving senator Orji Uzor Kalu also expressed condolences over Mandiya's death.
The tributes reflected the relationships developed during the deceased's time in government and the National Assembly.
Reports following his death indicated that Mandiya was buried in Abuja on September 8 in accordance with Islamic rites.
Ningi's latest account has provided additional information about the period between the former senator's last reported appearance and the discovery of his body.
However, the description of a fatal bathroom accident remains based on the senator's recollection rather than a publicly available medical or forensic report.
The reviewed reports did not provide an official post-mortem finding or independently establish the precise time of death.
They also did not identify any criminal investigation or present evidence suggesting that another person was responsible.
It would therefore be inappropriate to introduce allegations of foul play without credible information supporting such claims.
The reported circumstances nevertheless illustrate how a medical emergency or accident inside a private residence may remain unnoticed when someone lives alone.
In Mandiya's case, Ningi attributed the eventual discovery to the concern shown by neighbours and a religious leader who recognised an unusual absence.
The sequence described by the senator emphasises the importance of regular contact among relatives, friends and community members, particularly when an individual lives without other household occupants.
His comments were not presented as a formal proposal for legislation or an announcement of a Senate investigation.
Instead, they formed part of a personal reflection on mortality and the unexpected loss of a longstanding friend.
The account also returned attention to Mandiya's political career and the relationships he maintained after leaving the National Assembly.
For Ningi, the central message was that public achievement offers no guarantee against sudden death or personal vulnerability.
The former senator's death had already been publicly announced in September, but the detailed account presented during plenary has brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding it.
As colleagues continue remembering Mandiya, Ningi's testimony stands as a tribute to their friendship and a reminder of the importance of human connection beyond political office.
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