Senate Corrects Error in Danladi Umar’s Removal Motion, Reaffirms Decision

The Senate has rectified an error in its earlier resolution regarding the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, affirming its decision after citing the correct constitutional provisions.

Last week, the Senate invoked Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution in a motion led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, calling for Umar’s dismissal over allegations of misconduct.

However, a procedural oversight was later discovered: Section 157 applies to the Code of Conduct Bureau and other executive agencies, not the judiciary.

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To address this mistake, Bamidele moved a fresh motion on Tuesday, citing the appropriate legal references—Paragraph 17(3) of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The motion now correctly aligns with the constitutional process for removing a CCT Chairman.

“The Senate notes a mistake in its earlier resolution adopted at its plenary sitting on Wednesday, 20th November 2024, regarding the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, for misconduct. It has become necessary to adopt this motion to correct the mistake and prevent future confusion,” Bamidele explained.

He stressed that the correction would not invalidate the resolution to remove Umar but instead ensure that the right constitutional provisions were invoked.

“The correction solely addresses the mis-citation of Section 157.1 of the Constitution and replaces it with the correct provision, Paragraph 17.3, Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule,” he affirmed.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also endorsed the corrected motion, thanking senators for their diligence in ensuring adherence to the Constitution.

He urged the public to disregard any confusion stemming from the earlier procedural error, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to transparency.

The Senate has called on the House of Representatives to concur with its decision, as required by law.