The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified the Senate’s decision to remove the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, citing misconduct and breach of public trust.
This resolution was made following the invocation of Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 LFN 2004. These provisions empower the legislature to remove the CCT chairman upon a two-thirds majority decision from both chambers of the National Assembly.
Leading the motion for Umar’s removal, the Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, explained: “The provisions require the President to act on an address supported by a two-thirds majority of both the Senate and the House of Representatives to remove the CCT chairman for misconduct.”
The lawmakers highlighted an incident involving Umar at the Banex Plaza Shopping Complex in Abuja, where he was caught in a public altercation with a security guard. The incident, which drew widespread condemnation, was deemed unbecoming of a public officer of his status.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions had earlier summoned Umar to provide an account of his actions. While he initially admitted involvement in the altercation, he refused to attend subsequent hearings, impeding the investigation.
Expressing disappointment, the House stated: “The official conduct of Umar has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such a tribunal.”
The lawmakers emphasized that as the chairman of a statutory institution like the CCT, Umar was expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, probity, and accountability. However, his actions were deemed inconsistent with the ethical requirements of his office.
