Senate paves way for Kogo to assume office, asks Tinubu to sack Umar as CCT chair

The senate asked President Bola Tinubu to remove Danladi Umar as chair of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The upper legislative chamber invoked section 157 (1) of the constitution to send a written address to the president after it secured two-thirds majority.

The red chamber took the decison following a motion sponsored by Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the senate, on Wednesday.

In July, Tinubu appointed Mainasra Kogo as new CCT chair to take over from Umar who was appointed in 2011. However, Kogo has not assumed office yet.

Section 22 of the CCT law said the president can only remove the chair or a member of the tribunal except with a written address by the house of representatives and senate.

Umar has faced corruption allegations and even assaulted a security guard in Abuja in 2021.

While moving his motion, Bamidele said the conduct of Umar has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer.

“That the wenate has been inundated with series of petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the chairman, a situation that necessitated the 9th senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to invite him to series of its investigative hearings in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations,” he said.

“However, he appeared before the Committee only once and therefore avoided subsequent invitations.

“Also concerned about his alleged absenteeism from office for more than one month, without permission and recuse to his position, coupled with preponderance of corruption allegation, misappropriation, and physical street brawl with a security man in the FCT vis-à-vis his current investigation by the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS.

“All these are tantamount to acts of negligence and gross misconduct, unbecoming of a chairman of such a reputable tribunal.”

Eighty-four senators are in favour of Umar’s removal, Tahir Monguno, chief whip of the senate, said after a closed-door session that lasted more than hour.

The motion was adopted by the upper legislative chamber after it was put to a vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Umar was chair of the tribunal when Tinubu was charged with operating foreign bank accounts, contrary to the constitution. He was cleared of the charges.