Senate’s Action On CCT Chair’s Misconduct Gets Backing From NBA

Senate’s Action On CCT Chair’s Misconduct Gets Backing From NBAThe Senate on Wednesday officially removed Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) following allegations of gross misconduct during his tenure.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In response to the decision, both the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who represented former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, in his 2019 trial, expressed support for the Senate’s action.

Speaking to The PUNCH, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) confirmed that the Senate followed the constitutional procedure outlined in Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates a two-thirds Senate majority for the removal of key public officials. Osigwe noted, “If the Senate has adhered to the constitutional process and the President accepts the decision, the removal is valid. The fact that they have followed due process means there is no grounds to challenge the action.”

Awomolo, who represented Onnoghen in his case, commented, “I leave Umar to God and his conscience. May the Lord forgive him.”

The Senate’s decision came after a closed-door session that lasted over an hour, during which more than 84 lawmakers voted in favor of Umar’s removal. The motion was introduced by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Bamidele pointed out that Umar’s conduct had failed to meet the standards expected of such an important public officeholder. He said, “The Code of Conduct Tribunal is expected to embody integrity, probity, and accountability, but Umar’s conduct has fallen short of these values.”

Bamidele also detailed the series of allegations against Umar, including claims of corruption, absenteeism from office, and his involvement in a public altercation with a security officer. He further highlighted Umar’s refusal to honor multiple invitations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions for investigation. These factors led to concerns that Umar’s behavior was detrimental to the reputation of the tribunal.

“The Senate had received numerous petitions regarding his misconduct,” Bamidele said, referencing Umar’s failure to attend subsequent investigative hearings and his ongoing investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and the DSS. “These actions are unacceptable for someone in his position and undermine the tribunal’s standing.”

The Senate’s decision to remove Umar was also influenced by the recent confirmation of Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new CCT Chairman, following a nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which the Senate approved in July 2024.

The removal marked the first time since 1999 that the Senate invoked this section of the Constitution to remove the head of a statutory agency. The Senate emphasized that the move was crucial to protect the tribunal’s integrity and maintain public trust in key government institutions.

Umar, who had led the controversial trial and removal of Walter Onnoghen, faced significant criticism during his tenure. Onnoghen’s trial was widely debated, and in a recent court ruling, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision, ordering the return of Onnoghen’s frozen bank accounts, along with other reliefs.

This development is seen as a critical step in reinforcing the rule of law and ensuring that key government institutions maintain their credibility and effectiveness.

For more information on this article and other related posts from Bushradiogist, please join our WhatsApp channel by clicking this link https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUumOODTkK7AZL1Fw3o. For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 090 1907 0863 on WhatsApp.