Senate Admits Error In Attempt To Remove CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar

The Nigerian Senate has acknowledged a constitutional error in its motion to remove the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, over allegations of misconduct.

The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi last week, invoked Section 157(1) of the Constitution as the basis for Umar’s removal.

However, it was later discovered that the cited section pertains to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and other executive agencies, with no relevance to the Senate’s authority to remove the CCT chairman.

The Senate’s move has drawn criticism from legal experts and political observers, who have questioned the procedural oversight in the motion.

In light of the correction, the Senate is expected to review the matter and decide on the appropriate legal framework to address the allegations against Umar.

For now, the incident highlights the importance of constitutional accuracy in legislative proceedings, particularly when addressing matters of national importance.

To correct the mistake, Senator Opeyemi, in a motion on Tuesday sought for activation of paragraph 17(3), PT 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

This implies that the Senate is correcting its resolution to remove the chairman of the CCT on the grounds of misconduct as debated by senators through resolution S/RES/2/3624, dated Wednesday, 20th November, 2024.

To affirm the removal of the CCT chairman, the Senate corrected the mistake in its resolution S/RES/2/36/24 dated Wednesday, 20th November, 2024 where Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was wrongly cited.

The Senate further resolved the concurrence of the House of Representatives to this resolution in accordance with paragraph 17(3) PT1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Section 22(3) Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act CAP C15, LFN 2004.

The Senate urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation or confusion regarding the mistake in its resolution regarding the removal of Danladi Umar from office as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio thanked the senators for their commitment to doing the right thing, and affirmed the CCT chairman’s removal.