Abuja - The Senate may have to wield the big stick on Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello with the consequent declaration of her seat vacant if she continues to shun the attendance of proceedings of the upper chamber.This follows her continuous absence from the Senate sessions since her case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has charged the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health to court over her alleged involvement in the N300 million fraud at the Ministry of Health.The Senate spokesman and chairman of its Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, disclosed this on Tuesday during the weekly press briefing by the Senate.  Senator Eze, who admitted that Obasanjo-Bello’s case was beyond the jurisdiction of the Senate, the case having already been taken to court for adjudication, said the Senate was, however, worried over the continued absence of the legislator at the proceedings of the House, a development which he said contravened the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.  Senator Eze, who also said that the Senate could not account for her now, stated that the Senate was expected to sit for a minimum of 181 days in a year, and the constitution made it mandatory for a senator to attend two-thirds of that 181 days, failure of which an interested party from her constituency could notify the National Assembly leadership. Giving details of the procedure, Eze said: “Attendance at sittings of the Senate is voluntary. Every member is subject to the rules and law of Nigeria. The Senate is expected to do a minimum of 181 days in a year and by law, it is also mandatory and a senator is expected to do two-thirds of that 181 to qualify to continue in the chamber.” According to Senator Eze, “it is not the responsibility of the leadership or members of the Senate to fish around for a senator who is not coming. What happens when a senator is absent for considerable number of times is that an interested party or member of the constituency of the senator concerned notifies the National Assembly leadership or the Senate that well, so and so, and so, so, person has been absent from the Senate for so and so period and I think that constitutionally, his or her membership of the National Assembly has lapsed.  “If the records of her attendance are checked and the person has not attained the constitutional period required for his or her membership to continue, there is no other procedure required except to write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Senate President is expected to write INEC to say that so, so and so person has not met the constitutional requirement, therefore conduct election to fill the vacancy. That is what the law says.” Click here to read the rest of the story from the Tribune 

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Akure (Ondo) - A principal expert witness of Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, who claims to be a professor of computer science at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), could not download information from a website during cross-examination at the election petitions tribunal in Akure by the counsel to the Labor Party governorship candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

The witness, Prof. Emmanuel Adegbeyeni, told the Justice Garba Nabaruma-led tribunal that he was the first doctorate degree holder in computer science in Black Africa.

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Lagos - Top associates and friends of Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) have dispelled rumors of the death of the legal icon and human rights activist describing those spreading the rumor as wicked.

Gani had last week celebrated his 70th birthday amidst accolades and eulogies in his honor, though he was absent at programs held in his honour due to his ill health.

The Head of Chambers at Gani’s law firm, Mr. Adindu Ugwuzor, described the rumors as a complete lie. He said his boss still gave the vote of thank at a lecture organized in his honor on Monday by the Campaign for Democracy (CD).

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Abuja - President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has directed the Minister of State for Transportation in charge of Aviation, Mr. Felix Hyatt, to immediately investigate reports of maltreatment of Nigerian passengers by the British Airways and other foreign airlines.

This is against the backdrop of protest by Nigerians on board a British Airways Flight 0075 from London to Lagos on March 27, 2008. The President was particularly miffed at the incident in which British Airways officials allegedly ordered over 100 Nigerians off the London–Lagos bound flight.

The passengers were protesting the brutal treatment of a Nigerian deportee aboard the flight.

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Abuja - The Nigerian Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, has urged the British High Commission to relax its strict entry visa conditions to ease the hardship of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom for legitimate businesses.

A statement by the Special Adviser (media) to the speaker, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said that Bankole made the appeal on Monday when he received the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria , Mr. Bob Dewar in his office.

Speaker Bankole expressed concern over the hardship Nigerians were made to go through before obtaining UK visa and asked the Commission to soften its visa policy on Nigerians.

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