The Nigerian Senate has removed the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, following allegations of misconduct and corruption.
The decision was reached after a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, invoking Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The motion alleged Umar’s absenteeism from office for over a month without permission, among other misconduct issues.
Bamidele explained that multiple petitions and allegations against the CCT Chairman had been submitted to the Senate, prompting the 9th Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions to conduct investigative hearings.
The Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, presented the motion for debate, after which it was put to a vote. Seventy-four Senators voted in favor of Umar’s removal, while 10 opposed the motion, achieving the two-thirds majority required by the Constitution.
The Senate also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s recommendation of Abdullahi Usman Bello as Umar’s replacement. The resolution has been forwarded to the presidency for final implementation, as directed by Akpabio.
This development marks a significant shift in the leadership of the CCT, with lawmakers emphasizing the importance of accountability and integrity in public office.
