By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday passed a resolution that authorised President Bola Tinubu to sack the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr Danlandi Umar, over alleged misconduct and negligence.
The Senate’s resolution followed its consideration and adoption of a motion 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.”
After an hour-long executive session, the Senate resolved to “invoke and activate the constitutional provision as enshrined in section 157 (1).
The red chamber resolved to forward an address, supported by a two-thirds majority of the Senate, to be acted upon by Mr President for the official removal of Mr Yakubu Danladi Umar as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The upper chamber stated that this development would pave the way for Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello’s official resumption as the new substantive Chairman of the Tribunal.
The Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC- Ekiti Central), sponsored the motion.
The Senate said the action became necessary because Umar has allegedly “fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such Tribunal.”
The Senate also claimed that the CCT chairman was accused of corruption and misappropriation, which security agencies are now investigating.
In his lead debate, the Senate Leader noted that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is one of the key components of the country’s Federal Institutions.
It is saddled with the sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business and ensuring that the actions and behaviours of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability.
He said that a statutory institution of such magnitude is expected to epitomise moral rectitude and should be seen to uphold the virtues of integrity, probity and accountability.
“However, the conduct of Yakubu Danladi 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.
He expressed concerns that the Senate has been inundated with petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the Chairman.
The Senate Leader said that a situation that necessitated the 9th Senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, invited him to a series of investigative hearings to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations.
Bamidele said, “However, he appeared before the Committee only once and after that avoided subsequent invitations.
“The Senate is also concerned about Umar’s alleged absenteeism from office for more than one month, without permission, and recuse of his position.
“This is coupled with a preponderance of corruption allegations, 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 a reputable Tribunal
“The Senate is aware of the series of overwhelming allegations against the Chairman. Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, forwarded tr. Abdullahi Usman BBello’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the new Chairman of the Tribunal.
“The Plenary Sitting of the Senate on Thursday, July 4, 2024, Bello’s appointment was duly confirmed, hence the need for the erstwhile Chairman to vacate the office for the substantive Chairman to resume office officially.
“Recalls that by 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.
“Senate does at this moment affirm that the invocation of the afore-mentioned constitutional provision in this circumstance seems to be the only way out to safeguard the sacred image of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, in line with the resolve of the 10th Senate to uphold the rule of law and sustain the ideals of corporate governance structure in Nigeria.”
The Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, explained that the resolution was approved by 72 Senators who signed the register at plenary and 10 others who were busy at committee meetings.
The Senate is comprised of 109 Senators, requiring 72 votes to gain a two-thirds majority.
