The controversy surrounding the Nigerian Senate’s handling of the attempted removal of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar, has intensified following an unexpected twist.
A viral video surfaced on Monday, capturing a lawyer, Mainasara Umar Kogo, entering the Tribunal premises in Abuja and proclaiming himself the new CCT Chairman.
Kogo, addressing the Tribunal’s management and staff in the footage obtained by PRNigeria, claimed he had been appointed by the Presidency. His declaration has raised serious concerns about constitutional violations and the legality of his actions.
According to the 1999 Constitution, appointing a CCT Chairman requires a presidential nomination, a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC), and approval by the National Assembly. None of these steps appeared to have been followed in Kogo’s case, prompting widespread criticism.
This incident follows the Senate’s controversial attempt to remove Danladi Umar under Section 157(1) of the Constitution. However, a fact-check revealed that this provision applies to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), not the CCT. The Senate compounded the confusion by linking Umar’s case to Abdullahi Usman Bello, who was recently appointed to head the CCB.
Further complicating matters, the Senate’s investigation into Umar was reportedly based on a petition over alleged misconduct in a past incident already dismissed by an anti-corruption agency.
Kogo’s self-proclamation has intensified concerns over the adherence to constitutional norms, as the removal of a CCT Chairman requires a formal motion to the National Assembly, supported by both legislative chambers. None of these procedures were evident in Kogo’s self-declaration.
Legal experts have roundly criticized the situation. Prominent lawyers, including Professor Mamman Lawan Yusufari, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, and Dr. Wahab Shittu, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), have described the Senate’s actions and Kogo’s self-appointment as a violation of constitutional processes.
Calling for immediate corrective measures, they urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to advise President Bola Tinubu on adhering to constitutional procedures.
This dramatic turn of events has deepened concerns over the rule of law and the transparency of governmental processes, with many Nigerians questioning the Senate’s understanding of the distinctions between the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
