The Nigerian Senate has dismissed Danladi Umar from his position as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). This action follows the Senate's invocation of Section 157 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, with a two-thirds majority backing the decision.
The vote to remove Umar was supported by 74 senators, with 10 senators present, bringing the total to 84 senators involved in the process.
The Senate held a closed-door session at 1:17 PM today, to deliberate on the matter, which was the first item on the day's order paper. The session concluded at 2:36 PM, with Senate Whip Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) proposing the motion to formally initiate the removal, citing constitutional provisions.
The motion, which was presented by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), highlighted significant concerns about Umar’s conduct in office. The motion was titled, “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
According to Bamidele’s motion, the Senate emphasized the vital role of the CCT in maintaining ethical standards and accountability within Nigeria's public institutions. He noted that as the head of such a significant body, Umar was expected to exemplify integrity, probity, and high moral standards.
However, the motion argued that Umar’s actions had consistently fallen short of these expectations.
Senate further cited numerous allegations against Umar, including claims of misconduct, corruption, and misappropriation of funds. These issues prompted the Senate's Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions Committee to invite Umar to several investigative hearings, although, Umar attended only one hearing and subsequently failed to respond to further invitations.
Additionally, concerns were raised over Umar's prolonged absence from office, reportedly exceeding one month without formal permission, and his involvement in a physical altercation with a security officer in the Federal Capital Territory.
All these allegations, coupled with an ongoing investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS, were deemed serious enough to warrant his removal.
In light of these developments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Abdullahi Usman Bello to replace Umar as the new CCT Chairman.
Bello's nomination was confirmed by the Senate in a plenary session on July 4, 2024, officially setting the stage for Umar’s removal and the transition of leadership at the tribunal.
This decision marks a significant move towards ensuring accountability and upholding the integrity of public offices in Nigeria.
