The Senate has invoked Section 157 (1) of the amended 1999 Constitution to dismiss Yakubu Danladi Umar from his position as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), citing severe misconduct.
The decision followed a significant majority vote, with 74 out of 84 senators present supporting the motion for Umar’s removal, while 10 senators abstained. This resolution will be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for official approval, paving the way for Abdullahi Usman Bello to assume the role of Chairman of the Tribunal.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision after a closed-door session that began at 1:17 PM. The motion was introduced by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central).
Following the session, which ended at 2:36 PM, Senate Whip Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North) emphasized that the Senate’s action aligns with constitutional provisions.
Senator Bamidele described the motion as vital for maintaining the integrity of federal institutions, stressing the Tribunal’s role in upholding moral standards within government operations and ensuring accountability among public officials.
He noted that Umar’s conduct had fallen short of expectations for someone in his position. The Senate had received numerous petitions alleging corruption and misconduct against him, prompting the 9th Senate to summon him for investigative hearings. However, Umar attended only one session and subsequently ignored further invitations.
Additional concerns included Umar’s unauthorised absence from office for over a month and ongoing investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS into allegations of corruption, misappropriation, and a public altercation with a security officer in the Federal Capital Territory.
Senator Bamidele concluded that Umar’s actions constituted negligence and gross misconduct, making him unfit to lead such a prestigious institution.
