Senate Amends Resolution, Sacks CCT Chairman Danladi Umar

By Margaret Ibrahim

The Senate, on Tuesday, invoked the provisions of Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 2004, to remove Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

This decision followed the adoption of a motion titled “Invocation of Provisions of the Constitution for the Removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal” during plenary. The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader Sen. Bamidele Opeyemi (APC-Ekiti), addressed earlier errors in the constitutional basis for the resolution.

During Tuesday’s plenary, Opeyemi pointed out that the Senate had mistakenly invoked Section 157(1) of the Constitution in its initial resolution instead of the appropriate provisions. He clarified that Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 2004, provided the legal grounds for advising the president to remove a public officer through a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Opeyemi further emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance with the constitutional framework, as the CCT is responsible for maintaining high standards of morality in government business. He urged the Senate to rescind the initial motion and adopt the correct legal provisions to make the call for Umar’s removal effective.

The motion to correct the error was seconded by Senator Peter Nwaebonyi. Following a unanimous voice vote by the senators present, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the adoption of the revised constitutional provisions and the rescission of the earlier resolution.

This decision formally concludes the Senate’s process for removing Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The session was adjourned to Wednesday, November 27, to confirm the finality of the resolution.