Ministers to decide on Yar’adua’s fitness

Judge Dan Abutu ordered the cabinet to pass a resolution on Yar’adua’s fitness within two weeks after a former lawmaker brought a legal case against the government, saying his failure to transfer power was in breach of the constitution. “We will abide by the judgement of the court. The Executive Council of the Federation will […]

Judge Dan Abutu ordered the cabinet to pass a resolution on Yar’adua’s fitness within two weeks after a former lawmaker brought a legal case against the government, saying his failure to transfer power was in breach of the constitution. “We will abide by the judgement of the court. The Executive Council of the Federation will within 14 days, as directed, consider a resolution on the state of the president’s health,” Attorney-General Michael Aondoakaa said.

The Senate, which was briefed on Thursday on Yar’adua’s health in a closed-door session, is due to meet next Tuesday for an update and may also take a position on whether the president should remain in office. The cabinet unanimously agreed in early December, less than 10 days after Yar’adua left for Saudi Arabia, that there were no grounds to seek his resignation, rejecting calls for him to step down or prove his fitness to govern.

Nigerian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Aminchi, said a week ago Yar’adua was expected to be discharged from hospital very soon after showing significant recovery but there has been no word on when he might return.