The Nigerian Senate has reversed its earlier decision which relied on Section 157 (1) of FRN 1999, as amended for the sack of Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), removing him from office and it’s in place invoked paragraph 17 (3) PT 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
While standing by its decision to sack Danladi the Lawmakers revoked section 157 and invoked Section 22 (3) Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15, LFN 2004 as the Constitutional and statutory basis for its resolution S/RES/2/36/24 in accordance with paragraph 17 ( 3 ) , PT 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader , Opeyemi Bamidele.
Describing its previous Constitutional decision as a mistake the Senate on Tuesday also resolved to urge the concurrence of the House of Representatives to this resolution in accordance with paragraph 17 (3) PT I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and section 22 (3) Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15, LFN 2004.
Recall that the Senate while Relying on section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended took drastic action against Yakubu Danladi Umar, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), removing him from office due to unacceptable acts of misconduct.
However , the decision drew reactions from the public, especially legal practitioners, as they described it as illegal due to the wrong provisions of the Constitution quoted by the Senators.
Bamidele described the Senate’s earlier decision as an error, his motion read;
“Correct the Freudian slip in its resolution S/RES/2/36/24 dated Wednesday, 20 November 2024 wherein section 157 (I) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) instead of the correct constitutional provision, which is paragraph 17 (3) PT I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and this resolution effects only the rescission of the wrong Constitutional citation and does not in any way invalidate resolution S/RES/2/36/24 of Wednesday, 20th November 2024”.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio who presided over the Senate subjected the prayers of the motion to a voice in which the Lawmakers voted in favour of all the prayers.
The Senate in its prayers urged the general public to disregard any misinformation or confusion regarding the Freudian slip inherent in its resolution S/RES/2/36/24 of Wednesday, 20th November 2024 regarding the removal from office of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar as the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal.
The motion leading to Umar’s removal was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who highlighted the pivotal role of the CCT in maintaining high standards of morality and accountability in government.
Bamidele stated, “The Code of Conduct Tribunal, as a statutory institution, is expected to uphold virtues of integrity, probity, and accountability.
“However, the conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar has fallen short of these requisite standards for a public officer entrusted with such responsibilities.”
