Senate Removes Code Of Conduct Tribunal Chairman Yakubu Danladi Umar Over Gross Misconduct
The Nigerian Senate has invoked Section 157 (1) of the Constitution to dismiss Yakubu Danladi Umar from his role as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), citing allegations of gross misconduct deemed incompatible with the office’s standards.
The decision followed a motion supported by two-thirds of the Senate, with 74 out of 84 Senators signing in favor. The motion, titled “Invocation of the Provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution for the Removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal,” was debated privately before being formally presented by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele emphasized the critical role of the CCT in maintaining ethical standards among public officers. “The Code of Conduct Tribunal is one of the key components of Federal Institutions in the country, saddled with the sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining high standards of morality in the conduct of government business,” he stated. He argued that Umar’s conduct had failed to meet these standards, compromising the tribunal’s integrity and accountability.
Reports against Umar included absenteeism from office for over a month without approval, allegations of corruption, mismanagement of funds, and an alleged physical altercation with a security officer. These prompted investigations by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS. Additionally, Umar repeatedly ignored summons from the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, appearing only once before avoiding subsequent invitations.
Senator Bamidele remarked, “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.”
The Senate confirmed the need for Umar’s removal to enable Abdullahi Usman Bello, previously nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and confirmed in July 2024, to formally assume office as the new CCT Chairman.
