The Senate has removed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, over alleged gross misconduct.
This decision was made pursuant to Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), which empowers the Senate to remove key public officials following due process.
The sacking followed a closed-door session lasting over one and a half hours.
Upon resumption of plenary, the Senate announced that more than 84 lawmakers supported the decision.
The motion leading to Umar’s removal was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who highlighted the pivotal role of the CCT in maintaining high standards of morality and accountability in government.
Bamidele stated, “The Code of Conduct Tribunal, as a statutory institution, is expected to uphold virtues of integrity, probity, and accountability.
“However, the conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar has fallen short of these requisite standards for a public officer entrusted with such responsibilities.”
He added that a statutory institution of such magnitude is expected to be an epitome of moral rectitude and “should be seen to uphold the virtues of integrity, probity and accountability.
“However, the conduct of Mr Yakubu Panladi Umar, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal, has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such Tribunal.”
He added that “The Senate has been inundated with series of petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the Chairman, a situation that necessitated the 9th Senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to invite him to series of its investigative hearings in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations.
However, he appeared before the Committee only once an thereafter avoided subsequent invitations.”
The Senate leader also added that the Senate was also concerned “about his alleged absenteeism from office far more than one month, without permission and recuse to his position, coupled with preponderance of corruption allegation, misappropriation, and physical street brawl with a security man in the FCT vis-à-vis his current investigation by the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS All these are tantamount to acts of negligence and gross misconduct, unbecoming of a Chairman of such reputable Tribunal
The Senate had previously summoned Umar to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions during the 9th Assembly. While he appeared once, he failed to honour subsequent invitations.
The Senate Leader also referenced the recent confirmation of Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new Chairman of the CCT.
President Bola Tinubu forwarded Bello’s nomination to the Senate, which was confirmed during the plenary on July 4, 2024.
Section 157(1) of the Constitution stipulates that “The President may remove the Chairman or any member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate, for inability to discharge the functions of the office or for misconduct.”
The Senate resolved that invoking this provision was necessary to protect the integrity of the Tribunal and ensure it remains a symbol of corporate governance in Nigeria.
This decision underscores the commitment of the 10th Senate to uphold the rule of law and maintain public trust in critical government institutions.
Although enshrined in the Constitution, this is the first time since 1999 that the Senate will be invoking a section in the Constitution to remove any head of agency from office.
(PUNCH)