The embattled Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, continues to occupy the position despite a Senate order mandating his removal over alleged gross misconduct.
In November, the Senate resolved to sack Umar under Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the legislature to remove key public officials following due process.
The decision came after a closed-door session lasting over an hour and a half, with over 84 senators supporting the resolution.
However, confusion persists at the tribunal as Umar and Mainasara Kogo, newly appointed by President Bola Tinubu on July 13, both lay claim to the chairmanship.
Grassroots Parrot gathered that both men have visited the office and engaged with staff without any formal directive clarifying the leadership.
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The process for appointing a CCT chairman involves recommendations from the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) to the National Judicial Council (NJC), followed by presidential approval and Senate confirmation. This standard process appears to have stalled, creating administrative uncertainty.
The situation has disrupted operations at the tribunal. Staff report a backlog of unattended files and the adjournment of outstanding cases until January. Despite the controversy, corruption cases involving public servants are still being listed for trial or arraignment.
A former CCT staff member criticized Umar’s visits to the office post-removal, calling them illegal. “Why is he still signing documents and approving payments when his removal has been endorsed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives?” the former staff queried.
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The Senate and House of Representatives endorsed Umar’s removal on November 20 and 26, respectively, citing Sections 17(3) and 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act 2004, which allow for removal on grounds of misconduct.
Meanwhile, the legality of Umar’s removal is being contested in a Federal High Court in Abuja by groups including the Community Rescue Initiative and Toro Concerned Citizens. They argue that the Senate and House resolutions contravene constitutional provisions and are therefore null and void.
For now, the leadership crisis at the CCT remains unresolved, leaving tribunal staff and operations in limbo as the judiciary heads into its holiday recess.