A human rights group is urging Nigerian legislators to declare President Umaru Yar'Adua "missing" after six weeks in hospital in Saudi Arabia.

The Human Rights Writers Association also wants the National Assembly to send out a search party for him.

Judges are also due to hear two separate court cases over Mr Yar'Adua's protracted absence.

He has failed to hand over power to his deputy and so many Nigerians feel there is a power vacuum in the country.

Rights lawyer and activist Femi Falana wants judges to annul all decisions taken by the cabinet during the president's absence.

In the other case, senior opposition activist Farouk Adamu Aliyu is asking the Federal High Court to sack the president due to his failing health and for failing to abide by the provisions of the constitution.

Doctors say the president is suffering from acute pericarditis - inflammation of the lining of the heart.

He also has a long-standing kidney complaint.

Last week, a new chief justice was sworn in despite Mr Yar'Adua's absence.

Some lawyers have challenged this, as the constitution states that chief justice should take the oath of office to the president.

Instead, the ceremony was presided over by the outgoing chief justice, who denied the claims the ceremony was illegal.

Despite team officials (elder statesmen) sent to Saudi to verify d condition of our head of govt, their efforts yielded no result ! i dont think we ve a genuine and sincere govt,
there is something in dia sleeves, DORA and host of others are even silent on dis matter !

Her project "REBRANDING NIGERIA" is collapsing ooooooooooo. i dont think dat "Great people & Great Nation" gonna work in dis present administration cos we have bunch of criminals leading us at dis moment.

I reading something this morning about declaring nigeria president missing since no body has not given informations regarding his health for weeks now. Nigeria as a country is so lame.