Danladi Umar
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Danladi Umar, the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, was on Wednesday booted out of office by the Nigerian Senate, based on the provisions of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
Umar’s removal came in the heels of the adoption of a motion on “Invocation of Provision of Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended for removal of the Chairman of CCT”, which was sponsored by Sen. Bamidele Opeyemi (APC- Ekiti), Leader of the Senate.
Opeyemi accused Umar of falling short of the high expectations of the office he occupied as the Chairman of the Tribunal.
In the motion, the Senate leader said noted that the CCT was saddled with sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining high standard of morality in government business.
He said a statutory institution of such magnitude was expected to be an epitome of moral rectitude and should been seen to uphold virtues of integrity, probity and accountability.
Opeyemi expressed worry that the Senate had been inundated with series of petitions and allegations of corruption, misconduct against the Chairman through the Senate Committee on Ethics Code of Conduct and Public Petition, which had necessitated the Ninth Senate to invite Umar to a series of its investigative hearings with regard to those allegations.
However, Opeyemi o served that Umar appeared before the committee only once but avoided subsequent invitations.
The lawmaker frowned at Umar’s absenteeism from office for more than one month, without permission and recuse to his position, and also cited
the preponderance of corruption allegation, misappropriation and physical street brawl with a security man in the FCT vis-a-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 a reputable tribunal,” Opeyemi noted.
“Aware of the series of overwhelming allegations against the Chairman, President, Tinubu forwarded the name of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello to the Senate for confirmation as the new chairman of the Tribunal.
“And at the plenary sitting of the Senate on July, 4, his appointment was duly confirmed, hence the need for the erstwhile chairman to vacate the office for the substantive chairman to officially resume officer.
“Recalls that by virtue of the provisions of section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended,
”Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause or for misconduct.”
The Senate Leader said it had become necessary to invoke the relevant constitutional provision to safeguard the sacred image of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He added that it was in line with the resolve of the Tenth Senate to uphold the rule of law and sustain the ideals of corporate governance structure in Nigeria and pave the way for the official resumption of Bello as the new substantive chairman of the tribunal.
In his contribution, Deputy President of Senate, Sen.Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano), said the decision to invoke section 157 (1) to remove the CCT chairman from office was a unanimous decision of the Senate, adding that 84 senators endorsed his removal.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), corroborated the deputy Senate president, adding that the Senate had met the constitutional requirements to effect the removal of the CCT chairman.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio in his remarks said the Senate had formed the quorum to effect the removal.
He said opportunities had been presented to Umar to defend himself but he failed to do that.
Akpabio described Umar’s activities as unbecoming of a public servant, having even fought with a lady at a plaza.
He, therefore, mandated the Clerk of Senate, Mr. Ben Akabueze, to communicate the resolution of Senate for necessary action to President Bola Tinubu.
