By Emmanuel Kwada

The Nigerian Senate has unanimously called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Danladi Umar from his position as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) following serious allegations of misconduct and corruption. The motion was put forward by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele during a plenary session on Wednesday.

Senator Bamidele stated that the Senate has been bombarded with numerous petitions and allegations concerning Umar’s conduct, raising concerns about his fitness for the position. “The chairman’s behavior has fallen significantly short of the standards required of a public officer,” Bamidele asserted.

The chairman’s behavior has fallen significantly short of the standards required of a public officer

The senator highlighted that Umar had been invited multiple times by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions for investigative hearings but had only attended once. Furthermore, the committee noted his prolonged absence from work, reportedly exceeding one month, without any official leave.

The allegations against Umar extend beyond absenteeism, encompassing claims of corruption, misappropriation of funds, and even an altercation with a security officer in the Federal Capital Territory. Bamidele referenced ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), stating, “All these actions constitute gross misconduct that is unacceptable for the chairman of such a prestigious tribunal.”

All these actions constitute gross misconduct that is unacceptable for the chairman of such a prestigious tribunal

Following Bamidele’s speech, the motion was put to a voice vote and subsequently adopted, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio announcing the decision to proceed with a formal request to President Tinubu. The Senate invoked Section 157 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, meeting the requisite two-thirds majority necessary for the resolution.

In a related development, President Tinubu appointed Mainasra Kogo as the new CCT chairman in July to succeed Umar, whose tenure began in 2011. However, Kogo has not yet assumed office.

Under Section 22 of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, the removal of the tribunal’s chairman can only occur following a written request from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. With the Senate’s formal request now in motion, it remains to be seen how President Tinubu will respond to the growing concerns over Umar’s leadership at the CCT.

Under Section 22 of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, the removal of the tribunal’s chairman can only occur following a written request from both the Senate and the House of Representatives

This call for action marks a significant moment in the Senate’s ongoing efforts to promote accountability and integrity within Nigeria’s public institutions and could set a notable precedent for handling allegations of misconduct among public officials i n the country.