THE Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, confirmed the finality of the resolution sacking Danladi Umar as Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.
This followed Tuesday’s invocation of the provisions of Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 2004, by the Senate for the removal of Umar.
Tuesday’s resolution was consequent upon the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opayemi entitled: “Invocation of Provisions of the Constitution for the Removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal” in which he noted errors in the constitutional basis for the resolution.
Opeyemi noted that the Senate had mistakenly invoked Section 157(1) of the Constitution in its initial resolution instead of the appropriate provisions, stressing 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.
The Senate Leader stressed the importance of ensuring compliance with the constitutional framework, emphasizing that the CCT was responsible for maintaining high standards of morality in government business.
Opeyemi, therefore, urged the Senate to rescind the initial motion and adopt the correct legal provisions to make the call for Danladi Umar’s removal effective.
The motion was accordingly seconded by Senator Peter Nwaebonyi and was unanimously carried through voice vote of senators present.
Following the adoption, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the adoption of the revised constitutional provisions and the rescission of the earlier resolution was carried and adopted.
This resolution of the Senate concluded its process for the removal of Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
