Abuja - Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, failed to appear before the House of Representatives’ Committee probing the power sector with Chief Obasanjo in his usual self, sparingly showing his disgust with the committee chairman for sending an invitation to a probe panel that was signed on the latter’s behalf.

The invitation letter had been signed by “one Sahmed” (in Obasanjo’s words), instead of the Speaker or the Clerk of the National Assembly, as protocol demands. The former president also objected to the “disregard” for his age and position, and wondered why a letter dated May 3, 2008 only got to him six days later.

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Abuja - The 13 members of the Senate Committee on Health will not honor the invitation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a directive by the soon-to-be ousted President of the Senate, Chief David Mark.

Mark who cited the ongoing recess has, however, directed the Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello-led Committee to make a public defense of the claims of wrongdoings alleged against it in utilizing the N10 million from the N300 million unspent 2007 budget of the Federal Ministry of Health for a retreat in Ghana.

Consequently, the Committee has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and declared that it acted upon the rules of the Senate.

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Abuja - There are strong indications that the reported imminent change in the executive cabinet of Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua will see the controversial Attorney General and Minister of (In)Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) saying goodbye to his job. The cabinet shake-up may also not come until the national convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for March 8, provided it is not temporarily halted by an Abuja High Court which is looking into a suit seeking to stop it.

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Abuja - The Chairman of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (AIG) has been relieved of his position. Ribadu will proceed on a “mandatory” one year course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), even though his tenure as the commission’s Chairman was recently extended by the government of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.

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MSNBC (Nairobi) - The Kenyan first lady, Lucy Kibaki, has been accused of slapping a top government official for alledgely introducing her by the name of the President’s mistress. The sad event was said to have happened during a recent state function, when the top official, had slipped, introducing Lucy Kibaki as “Lucy Wambui”, a woman popularly believed to be the president’s second wife.

It story would not surprise most Nigerians, because this is a common situation in our very own country, where highly placed officials, have been reported at several times, physically manhandling journalists at public occassions. The late wife of immediate past president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Stella, was also reported to have slapped a journalist at a public event for being “rude”to her.

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