The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of its members calling for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danlandi Umar over alleged misconduct and negligence.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
Thereafter, the Senate after an hour executive session, resolved to “invoke and activate the constitutional provision as enshrined in section 157 (1) by forwarding an address, supported by a two-thirds majority of the Senate to be acted upon by Mr. President for the official removal of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, paving way for the official resumption of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new substantive Chairman of the Tribunal.”
The announcement followed a closed-door session lasting over one and a half hours on a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who highlighted the pivotal role of the CCT in maintaining high standards of morality and accountability in government.
Earlier, Senator Bamidele had argued the conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar has fallen short of the requisite standards for a public officer entrusted with such responsibilities as he has been given.
History of Misconduct
In 2018, Umar was charged for allegedly demanding a bribe of 10 million naira (approximately $27,800) from a suspect in a case before him. He was also accused of receiving 1.8 million naira as part of this arrangement in 2012.
In March 2021, a viral video showed Umar physically assaulting a security guard at Banex Plaza in Abuja. The incident reportedly arose from a dispute over parking. His actions, which included allegedly using ethnic slurs such as referring to the guard and bystanders as “Biafran boys,” drew widespread condemnation for their lack of decorum and potential ethnic profiling.
Umar has also been accused of issuing questionable ex-parte orders and threatening journalists covering tribunal proceedings with his behaviors seen as an attempt to suppress dissent and undermine transparency in cases he handled.
Following the assault case, Umar attempted to prevent the Nigerian Senate from investigating the incident by filing a legal suit. He argued that the Senate’s inquiry was unconstitutional and outside its jurisdiction.
All of these have contributed in the senate deeming him unfit to remain in his position as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
