The Nigerian Senate has officially removed Yakubu Danladi Umar from his position as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), citing Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for the decision.
The removal was finalized through a resolution supported by 74 senators—well above the two-thirds majority threshold required by law.
President Bola Tinubu is now expected to act on the Senate’s resolution, as mandated by the Constitution.
The president had previously appointed Abdullahi Usman Bello as Umar’s successor due to what officials described as “overwhelming allegations” of corruption and professional misconduct.
Among the charges leveled against Umar were allegations of corruption under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). He was also embroiled in controversy following a widely publicized physical altercation with a security guard in Abuja.
Despite these serious accusations and the presidential appointment of a replacement, Umar reportedly refused to relinquish his office. His defiance created a standoff that necessitated the Senate’s intervention.
A senior Senate official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “This decision was not taken lightly. The allegations against Mr. Umar, including corruption and misconduct, have cast a shadow on the integrity of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. His refusal to step down despite the president’s directive left us with no choice but to take legislative action.”
