The Senate has officially removed Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) following allegations of gross misconduct. The decision, endorsed by over 84 lawmakers after a closed-door session, was taken in accordance with Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the Senate authority to remove public officials after due process.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who sponsored the motion, emphasized the importance of integrity and accountability in the operations of the CCT, describing Umar’s conduct as falling below the required standards.
The allegations against Umar include absenteeism exceeding one month without authorization, involvement in a public altercation with a security guard, and multiple petitions citing corruption and misconduct. Umar is also under investigation by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS.
Despite being summoned by the Senate’s Ethics and Code of Conduct Committee during the 9th Assembly, Umar only appeared once and ignored further invitations.
The Senate’s action follows the confirmation of Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new CCT Chairman earlier in July, after his nomination by President Bola Tinubu.
This marks the first time since 1999 that the Senate has invoked Section 157 of the Constitution to remove the head of an agency, reaffirming the 10th Senate’s commitment to maintaining public trust and upholding the rule of law in government institutions.
