The code of conduct tribunal is in a state of confusion as a power tussle unfolds between Danladi Umar and Mainsara Kogo.
Danladi Umar was the former chairman of the code of conduct tribunal. He was appointed as the chairman in 2011. He was the youngest chairman of CCT. Meanwhile Danladi has been involved controversies.
On January 2018, EFCC accused Umar of receiving and demanding bribe from Rasheed Owolabi Taiwo.
On March 29th 2021, Danladi was seen according to report arriving at a shopping plaza with an intent to fix his phone. He then caught on camera slapping and kicking the security guard, Clement Sargwak according to Premium Times. This lead to the senate petitioning against Danladi but Danladi asked that the incident should be investigated. He was supposed to remain as the Head according to the Constitution till he was the age of 70.
About 3 weeks ago, a closed door meeting was held for over 4 hours before taking a decision. 84 senators voted in favour of removal of Umar Danladi. The President announced the removal of Danladi, both the Senate and House of Representativeon November 20 and 26 respectively.
Both resolution was based on Section 157(1) of the Constitution which says, ” Subject to the provisions of subsection(3) of this section, a person holding any of the offices to which this section applies may only be removed from that office by the president acting on an address supported by a two-third majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed fir inability to discharge the functions of the office( whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause), or for misconduct.
it was later discovered during the meeting a wrong section was used.
On July 13th, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Mainasara Kogo as a new chairman of CCT The same day it was announced Omolola Oloworaran as Director-General of the National Pension Commission.
Although the fate of Danladi has already been concluded both Danladi and Kogo visited Tribunal and help meeting with staffs without clearly stating the head.
It has lead to confusion between the staffs. The corruption cases are taken with several charges listed on the course list either trial or arraignment. The following statements by the staffs of the tribunal.
“We are civil servants and we believe we can work with anyone that comes,” a staff said.
“He came today and left and the entire judiciary is now on holiday so we have taken the liberty to adjourn all the outstanding cases to January,” the witness said.
“Why is he still coming to work seeking to sign some documents and approve payments to contractors?”
“We have not seen any letter to the effect of these changes. We believe there is a procedure for the removal and appointment of a new chairman of the CCT.
“We know that the president and the two arms of government have made pronouncements but we don’t know if invisible hands are working on these but we know there is a process,” he added.
One of the official explained the process for bringing in another chairman of the CCT. The appointee would go through screening by Federal Judicial Service Commission then to the National Judicial Commission then the President approves and it is forwarded to Senate for confirmation.
The legal dispute involving Danladi is being challenged at court before a Federal High Court in Abuja by Rescue Initiative.
Edited by:Oladeji Olabisi
