The House of Representatives will today formally consider lifting the suspension of its members who were sanctioned in June, 2010, for leading calls for the removal of the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, accused of fraud.
Two members, out of the 11 lawmakers banned, are to be considered first, following a guideline which spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, said will accept such reviews on individual basis only if the affected members quit litigations, and tender apology.
The roles played by Ehiogie Idahosa (Edo State) and Olugbenga Onigbogi (Osun State) - who did not seek legal redress - will be reviewed today in a report that is expected to recommend their recalls.
Both members, with nine others, under a group named The Progressives, asked for Mr. Bankole's removal, accusing him of misusing House 2009 capital budget funds amounting to N9 billion. On June 22, agitations for the Speaker's removal led to violence, which left two members hospitalised.
Members of the group, led by Dino Melaye, were forced out of the sitting, and handed indefinite suspension terms.
The House Ethics and Privileges committee, the equivalent of an in-house jury, which scrutinises erring members, laid reports of over three months of hearings on the matter last week, and the House indicated yesterday that a resolution will be reached to pave way for their recall.
The report will be the first to be considered on Tuesday, according to the House weekly notice paper released Monday, amid alleged threats by some members to disallow proceedings until the recommendations are concluded to reinstate the members.
Although members of the group, Mr. Idahosa and Mr. Onigbogi, were absent from the chamber during the fracas, the two lawmakers petitioned the House, offering to surrender themselves for internal inquiry.
Two other members of the group, Gbenga Oduwaye and Kayode Amusan, who also waived their rights to court action and last week offered to be investigated, will be considered next while Austin Nwachukwu who withdrew his case from court will also receive attention, the Ethics committee chairman, Saleh Minjibir, said.
The leader of the group, Mr. Melaye, and five others, challenged the ban in court, and are expecting a ruling November 15, 2010.
"For those who are still in court, we expect that some of them will take similar step to obey and respect the institution, but we assure you that the House will take necessary steps to ensure that such a thing does not repeat itself again," Mr. Eyiboh said.
The House Ethics committee, which also investigates corruption allegations against its members, had promised it will probe the N9bn charge against the Speaker, but is yet to make any report on that.
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