The Nigerian Senate has sacked Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Yakubu Danladi Umar in accordance with Section 157(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
Umar was sacked following allegations of misconduct and corruption during his tenure.
The decision to sack Umar came after a motion was moved by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during a plenary session.
The motion, titled ‘Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal’, was passed following the support of two-thirds of the Senate members.
A total of 74 senators signed in favor, with 10 senators present, bringing the total to 84.
Senator Bamidele noted that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is a crucial institution responsible for maintaining high standards of morality in government operations, ensuring public officers adhere to accountability and integrity.
“The conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal, has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such Tribunal,” Bamidele stated.
The Senate also expressed concern over Umar’s alleged misconduct, including corruption allegations, absenteeism from office without permission, and an infamous street brawl with a security guard in the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have been inundated with a series of petitions and allegations of corruption and misconduct against the Chairman, which necessitated his appearance before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions,”
“However, he only appeared once and subsequently avoided further invitations,”Bamidele added.
Bamidele further highlighted that Umar had been absent from his duties for over a month without leave, and his actions had resulted in ongoing investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS.
“These acts of negligence and gross misconduct are unbecoming of a Chairman of such a reputable Tribunal,” he noted.
In addition to these concerns, the Senate acknowledged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had nominated Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as Umar’s replacement.
His appointment was confirmed by the Senate in July 2024, marking the official transition of leadership at the CCT.
The Senate’s action follows a growing wave of allegations and a determination to maintain the integrity of federal institutions.
With Umar’s removal, the CCT can now proceed under the leadership of the new Chairman, Abdullahi Usman Bello.
Recall that in the latest cabinet reshuffle by President Bola Tinubu, five ministers were sacked. These include:
1. Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs
2. Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism
3. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education
4. Abdullahi Gwarzo, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development
5. Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development.
Additionally, 10 other ministers were reassigned to new portfolios, and seven new ministers were nominated for Senate confirmation.
Who is Yakubu Danladi Umar?
53-year-old Yakubu Danladi Umar is a Nigerian jurist who was a lawyer and a Chief Magistrate in Bauchi State, Nigeria before he became the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He was previously Appointed as the acting chairman of the Tribunal before he later assumed the position of being the Chairman.
Justice Umar has been appointed to this role in 2011 and made history as the youngest person to hold this position at the age of 40.
His appointment followed his tenure as the acting chairman of the tribunal, where he was nominated by the National Judicial Council and confirmed by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
His leadership at the CCT has been marked by a focus on speeding up the adjudication of cases, particularly those involving the conduct of public officers.
Notably, he was involved in the high-profile case against former Senate President Bukola Saraki, overseeing the tribunal that dealt with Saraki’s asset declaration case.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Umar’s reputation has been clouded by controversy, particularly a 2021 incident where he was caught on camera and involved in an altercation with a security guard at Banex Plaza in Abuja.
