Bauchi Lawyers Condemn Senate’s Removal Of CCT Chairman As Unconstitutional

The Lawyers for the Cause of Bauchi (LAWBA) have declared the removal of Justice Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) by the Senate unconstitutional and beyond its jurisdiction.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, LAWBA spokesperson Nasiru H. Bala criticized the Senate’s decision, asserting that it violated the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Senate’s Action Challenged

Justice Umar was removed last week during a closed-door Senate session that lasted over 90 minutes, with allegations of gross misconduct cited as the reason.

However, LAWBA contends that the removal did not adhere to constitutional requirements. They referenced Section 157(1) of the Constitution, stating that such provisions do not extend to the CCT. Instead, Section 17(3) of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution mandates the involvement of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the President’s approval, for the removal of the CCT Chairman.

Constitutional Arguments

LAWBA emphasized that:

Section 157(1), cited by the Senate, applies to institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission, excluding the CCT.
Section 17(3) explicitly outlines the removal process for the CCT Chairman, requiring bipartisan legislative action and presidential assent.

Call for Adherence to Rule of Law

The lawyers noted that the move to remove Justice Umar has sparked significant debate since July, when the Federal Government announced its intention to replace him.

The group urged the National Assembly to operate within its constitutional limits and called on the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure adherence to proper legal procedures to safeguard democracy and the rule of law.

LAWBA stressed the need for both the Executive and the Legislature to respect constitutional provisions to avoid setting a dangerous precedent.