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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.