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SGF Goofs in Backdated Letters on CCT Chairman Appointment with Conflicting Serial Numbers
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The desperate attempt to remove the embattled Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, has taken a controversial turn, raising serious questions about procedural irregularities and constitutional breaches.
Following previous missteps, including the premature announcement of a new CCT Chairman by former Presidential Spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale and the National Assembly’s failure to meet the required quorum, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has further complicated the situation. He issued two conflicting letters, both backdated to give the appearance of a legitimate transition, but riddled with inconsistencies in dates and serial numbers.
Contradictions in Disengagement and Appointment Letters
Documents obtained by PRNigeria reveal that the letter disengaging Umar from his position as CCT Chairman was dated January 6, 2025, but backdated to take effect from November 26, 2024. However, a separate letter appointing Dr. Mainsara Umar Kogo as the new Chairman was dated January 20, 2025, yet was also backdated to take effect from November 27, 2024—just a day after Umar’s removal.
Most notably, the reference numbers on these documents contradict the chronological sequence of events. The disengagement letter issued to Umar bears the reference number SGF.19/S.24/C.1/T/177, while the appointment letter for Kogo, issued 14 days later, inexplicably carries an earlier reference number: SGF.19/S.24/C.1/T/176. This suggests Kogo’s appointment was documented before Umar’s removal, further exposing irregularities in the process.
Omission of Constitutional Justifications
Another glaring inconsistency is the SGF’s failure to cite the relevant constitutional provisions in Umar’s disengagement letter. The letter merely states:
“I write to inform you that His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the exercise of his powers, has approved your disengagement as Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, with effect from 26th November, 2024, following the resolution of the National Assembly. While conveying Mr. President’s appreciation to you for your services to the nation during your tenure, may I wish you God’s guidance and best of luck in your future endeavors.”
In contrast, Kogo’s appointment letter explicitly references Paragraph 15(3) of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 20(4) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. This omission raises questions about the legality of Umar’s removal, as the constitutional process for such an action appears to have been ignored.
Legal Violations in Umar’s Removal
Meanwhile, the 1999 Constitution, as amended and cited by SGF, clearly outlines the procedure for appointing and removing a CCT Chairman: Paragraph 15(3) of the Fifth Schedule: “The Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).”
Paragraph 17(3) of the Fifth Schedule: “A person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall not be removed from his office or appointment by the President except upon an address supported by a two-thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly, praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office in question (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body), for misconduct, or for contravention of this Code.”
Paragraph 17(4) of the Fifth Schedule: “A person holding the office of Chairman or member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal shall not be removed from office before the retiring age except in accordance with the provisions of this Code.”
Despite these constitutional safeguards, there is no evidence that that the National Judicial Council (NJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, recommended a new CCT Chairman. There is also no evidence that the National Assembly met the two-thirds majority requirement for Umar’s removal.
Moreover, there is no also evidence suggesting that both houses of the National Assembly have met the required quorum or followed the proper procedures for engaging and disengaging a CCT Chairman. This matter is currently before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court before the recent letters.
Interestingly, despite the purported dismissal, Umar has been invited by the police for questioning over allegations of “Obstruction and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace.”
FG’s Track Record of Blunders on CCT Leadership
This is not the first time the Federal Government has mishandled attempts to remove the CCT Chairman. In 2024, the Senate, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, attempted to invoke Section 157(1) of the 1999 Constitution to remove Umar, citing allegations of and misconduct. However, a PRNigeria fact-check revealed that Section 157 applies to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), not the CCT, making the move legally untenable.
Additionally, the Senate previously confused the appointment of Abdullahi Usman Bello, who was cleared to chair the CCB, with that of the CCT—another embarrassing legal misstep.
Targeting Umar: Political or Legal?
Curiously, following his contested removal, Umar has now been invited by the police for questioning over allegations of “Obstruction and Conduct Likely to Cause a Breach of Peace.” This development raises concerns that his removal might be politically motivated rather than based on any proven misconduct.
As the controversy unfolds, legal experts and constitutional scholars argue that the Federal Government’s handling of the CCT leadership transition not only violates established legal procedures but also raises serious credibility concerns about the administration’s adherence to the rule of law.
The series of blunders, including backdated letters, contradictory serial numbers, and the omission of constitutional requirements, raises serious doubts about the legality of Danladi Umar’s removal and Mainsara Umar Kogo’s appointment. Without adherence to due process, the Federal Government risks another embarrassing legal defeat, further eroding public trust in its governance.
Credit: PRNigeria
Construction of access road from Tungan Madaki to Zuba will be Flagged off today
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#FCT31DaysCommissioning
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has promised to provide technical support while continuing to share knowledge with the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF), Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) of the Gambia in advancing social protection and workers’ welfare in the West African sub-region.
Managing Director/CE of NSITF, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, gave the assurance at the closing ceremony of the one-week study tour by the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund (IICF), Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) of the Gambia to the Fund.
He said the “NSITF will continue to support the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund under the SSHFC by sharing technical knowledge, exchanging experiences and providing guidance wherever we can.
“We see this as a partnership between brothers, working together towards the common goal of strengthening social protection and advancing the welfare of workers across our sub-region”.
Faleye, who was represented by the Executive Director (Administration), Barr. Samaila Abdu, said, “I therefore wish to assure you that this relationship does not end with today’s closing ceremony. Rather, it marks the beginning of an even stronger partnership between our two institutions.
“As you return home, please convey our warm regards to the Managing Director, the Board, Management and the entire Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation of The Gambia.
“As we come to the close of this week-long study visit, permit me to express our sincere appreciation to the delegation from the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation of The Gambia for choosing NSITF as the destination for this important study tour.
“Your decision to understudy our institution is both an honour and a demonstration of the growing spirit of collaboration among social security institutions within our sub-region. We are grateful for the openness, professionalism and mutual respect that have defined our engagements throughout the week,” the MD enthused.
“Over the course of this engagement, we have shared experiences, exchanged ideas and explored practical approaches to strengthening the administration of employment injury compensation and social security,” he continued, adding that “beyond the presentations and technical sessions, what has been most rewarding has been the quality of our interactions. We have engaged in frank discussions, asked important questions and learned from one another. That, indeed, is the true value of a study visit”.
Speaking further on the collaboration by the two agencies, the NSITF helmsman stated that “We are particularly delighted by your invitation for NSITF to visit The Gambia and witness first-hand how some of the lessons from this engagement will be adapted and domesticated within your institution. We deeply appreciate that invitation and will certainly give it due consideration.
“As an institution, we readily acknowledge that we are still strengthening and expanding our own social security implementation. Like every progressive institution, we continue to learn, innovate, and improve. However, we remain committed to sharing our experiences and best practices in areas where we have made meaningful progress”.
Giving a summary of what transpired during the tour, the Managing Director said, “We began by examining the evolution of social security administration in Nigeria, tracing the journey from the National Provident Fund through the NSITF and ultimately to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme established under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010.
“We also had the opportunity to exchange views on institutional governance, policy evolution and the future direction of social security within our respective countries.
“We examined the operational backbone of the Scheme, employer registration, compliance management and contribution assessment. Discussions centred on the legal obligations of employers, our compliance strategies, assessment methodologies and the role of technology in enhancing transparency and accountability.
“The interactive exchanges demonstrated our shared commitment to improving compliance while expanding coverage, particularly within underserved sectors of the economy.
“We explored claims administration, compensation delivery, rehabilitation and return-to-work programmes. Beyond the statutory obligation to compensate injured workers, we highlighted the importance of restoring dignity through medical rehabilitation, vocational training and economic reintegration.
“Our discussions also focused on research, evidence-based policy formulation, actuarial planning and the role of digital transformation in modern social security administration,” he highlited, adding that “the demonstration of the Employees Compensation Scheme Application (ECSA) illustrated how technology is enhancing efficiency, improving compliance and strengthening service delivery within the Fund. More importantly, our discussions on future cooperation reaffirmed our collective resolve to sustain this partnership beyond the confines of this study visit.”
Faleye maintained that together, the two social security agencies have reaffirmed that effective social security administration is not a destination but a continuous journey of learning, innovation and improvement.
“Perhaps the most important outcome of this engagement is our shared commitment to continue working together. The invitation extended to NSITF to visit The Gambia and witness your own reform journey is one we sincerely appreciate, he summed.
In his response, the leader of the Gambian delegation, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Employment, Lamine Camara, expressed appreciation for the opportunity, expressing the desire to improve on their operations.
“We are very pleased and not happy that this tour is coming to an end. We want to take this collaboration further in every area of social security. We are also looking at improving capacity from this collaboration.
“We are eager to learn from the NSITF experience. We also want to improve the areas of research we are behind in that area, and this will help improve us, and our experience can also be of great benefit to Nigeria. We also use this opportunity to invite NSITF to visit us in the Gambia, and we are very happy,” he stated.
No fewer than nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in a fresh attack by suspected gunmen on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State late Saturday night.
The attack, according to residents, began at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for more than one hour, leaving the village head of the community critically injured after he was allegedly attacked by the assailants.
A resident, Precious Tok, told Vanguard that the victims were slaughtered in their home during the coordinated assault, describing the incident as one of the deadliest attacks witnessed in the area in recent times.
He said the gunmen invaded the communities in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately and forcing terrified residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the attack, said the assailants struck under the cover of darkness and unleashed violence on helpless residents.
According to him, the attack wiped out nine members of one family, including a two-month-old infant, while the village head sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
He added that security agencies had been alerted and expressed hope that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.
The latest attack has thrown the affected communities into mourning, with residents urging the Federal and Plateau State governments to strengthen security across Riyom and other vulnerable communities to halt the recurring attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, security personnel had reportedly been deployed to the affected communities, while many residents remained displaced and fearful of further attacks.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful. (Sunday Vanguard)
DAY 24 of Projects Commissioning and Flag-Off in the FCT
NSITF promises Gambia of technical support, stronger partnership …As study tour ends in Abuja
Plateau in panic mode as nine members of same family 2 month old baby killed in renewed attack
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