The Nigerian Senate, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has entered a closed-door session to deliberate on the potential removal of Justice Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The closed session follows a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who invoked Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the procedure for removing the Chairman of the tribunal.
Bamidele’s motion drew attention to numerous petitions lodged against Justice Umar, prompting the Senate to consider taking action. To ensure a constructive and smooth debate, senators agreed to hold the discussions behind closed doors. Sources within the Senate disclosed that the closed session would allow members to address sensitive issues before opening the debate to the entire Chamber.
The Constitution stipulates that the removal of the CCT Chairman requires a two-thirds majority vote from both Chambers of the National Assembly. Should the Senate decide to remove Justice Umar from office, Abdullahi Usman Bello is set to be sworn in as the new substantive Chairman of the tribunal, according to the motion.
The ongoing discussions come amid growing concerns about the conduct and performance of the CCT, raising questions about the tribunal’s future leadership and its effectiveness. The Senate is expected to resume an open session once the internal deliberations have concluded.
