Legislative Council Reconvenes: Sanction Erring Members

 

Igbaoreto Samuel 'Gandoki' 

By: Korede Teriba 

Following the cancellation of its sitting which was scheduled to earlier on the 20th of January due to the absence of the Mace, the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall Legislative Council later reconvened at the Junior Common Room (JCR), later in the day around 8:10pm, with issuance of sanctions to erring members as one of the major deliberations. 

You would recall that the Mace had been unavailable due to the absence of the Chief whip, Hon. Odunukan Damife and the clerk, Hon. Owolabi Joshua (Jayjay). 

During the session, deliberations were made on the absent principal officers and honorable members.  Hon. Adewole Abdulsamad stating reasons for his absence claimed he had not been informed about the sitting, stating that there had been neither any form of communication on the legislative members WhatsApp group. He further added that he received no letter from the Clerk. 

The whip of the House, Hon. Odunukan Damife, stating reasons for his absence rather apologized and claimed responsibilities for his absence. The House later adjudged that the clerk pays a sum of N2,000, with three days ultimatum. Eyewitness from the press, however confirmed that the whip was seen around the hall on the night prior to the day of the sitting.

On his own part, the clerk of the House, Hon. Owolabi Joshua 'Jay jay' stated as a reason for his absence, that he had to go see someone. He also justified his absence from the sitting by claiming that he runs a business.  However, some members of the house testified against the clerk, stating that he had been in the hall, fast asleep during the time of the meeting. It would also be worthy of note that Jay jay currently has a disciplinary issue in the house, after eyewitnesses had reported that he was caught peeing beside A-Block tanks sometimes last semester. 

The House motioned that either Jay jay resigns as a member of the House or pays a fine of N15, 000 accruing to his past and current misconducts.

In an interview with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Igbaoreto Samuel on Jay jay's records of negligence of duties, he said the House had tried to caution him in the past for his misconducts. 

He was saying that he went to see someone and he was not around. But we discovered he was around during the time of meeting – which is not acceptable. [sic] He has been making mistakes that we tried to talk to him but it is not normal again. It is unacceptable at this point.