By Divine Sam
In a significant development, the Nigerian Senate has removed Danladi Umar from his position as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The decision followed the successful passage of a motion that invoked Section 157(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows for the removal of public officeholders, including judicial officers, based on allegations of misconduct.
The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, outlined serious allegations against Umar, including corruption, misconduct, and prolonged absenteeism from his office without permission. These issues were reportedly brought to light through various petitions and investigations conducted by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions. The motion also highlighted that President Bola Tinubu had nominated Abdullahi Usman Bello as a replacement for Umar.
After a debate among the Senators, the motion was put to a vote, with 74 Senators supporting Umar’s removal, while 10 opposed it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed that the decision would be communicated to the presidency for further action, in line with constitutional procedures.