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Tinubu, AGF, Akpabio dragged to court over removal of CCT chair, Danladi Umar
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President Bola Tinubu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged unlawful removal of Justice Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The President and 10 others were sued by two civil society groups, Community Rescue Initiative and Toro Concerned Citizens Relief Foundation, as well as an Abuja based lawyer, Comrade Nasir Bala.
The three plaintiffs are praying the court to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly from transmitting to Tinubu, the concurrent resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives which removed Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
They are also praying the court to stop the President from giving effect to the resolution of the two chambers of the National Assembly, on the grounds that clear provisions of the law, especially the 1999 Constitution, were not followed in the purported removal of the CCT boss.
Among others, the plaintiffs are seeking seven declarative reliefs against the President and the other defendants.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1796/2024, was instituted on behalf of the plaintiffs by Mahmoud M. Maidoki Esq., A.G Salisu Esq., Jibrin S. Jibrin Baq., and Abubakar S. Idris Bag.
In faulting the action of the National Assembly, the plaintiffs asked the Federal High Court to determine the following:
“Whether by virtue of the provisions of Sections 1(1) and (3) , 6(5), 153 (1) (e) & (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Paragraph 13 (a) (vii) and (b) of the Third Schedule thereof, the purported removal of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal by the 4th Defendant is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever same having been made pursuant to the provisions of section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution or any other law for that matter.
“Whether by virtue of the provisions of Sections 1(1) and (3) , 6(5), 153 (1) (e) & (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Paragraph 13 (a) (vii) and (b) of the Third Schedule thereof, the purported concurrence by the 6” Defendant with the decision/resolution of the 4 Defendant purportedly removing the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal taken at 4th Defendant’s plenary of the 20th November 2024 or any other date for that matter which said concurrence was taken at the 6th Defendant’s Plenary of 26th November 2024 is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever same having been founded on a faulty legal foundation and in breach/violation of section 22 (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal Act and paragraph 17 (3) of the 5th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Whether by virtue of the provisions of Paragraph 17 (1) of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 20 (1) and (4) of the Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal Act and the subsistence of the occupation of the office of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal by Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, the purported appointment and subsequent confirmation of the 10th or 11th Defendants into the same office by the 1st and 4th Defendants, respectively, is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect same having been done in clear breach of the applicable provisions of the 1999 Constitution (Supra) and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (Supra).
“Whether the purported removal of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the person of Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar as done by the 4th Defendant based on the motion and submission founded by distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele during its plenary of 20th November 2024 and the subsequent concurrence by the 6th Defendant on 26th November, 2024 at its plenary has occasioned/amounted to a breach of Section 36(1) and Section 6 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as the allegations of misconduct among others which formed the basis of the resolution/decision in issue has not been proved/established in the manner prescribed by law.”
The plaintiffs noted that if the above questions are answered in the affirmative, the court should declare
that by virtue of the provisions of Sections 1(1) and (3), 6(6), 153 (1) (e) & (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Paragraph 13 (a) (vii) and (b) of the Third Schedule thereof, the purported removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal by the 4th Defendant is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever, same having been made pursuant to the provisions of section 157 (1) of the 1999 Constitution or any other law for that matter.
Other declarations and orders sought by the plaintiffs are:
“A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Sections 1(1) and (3), 6(6), 153 (1) (e) & (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Paragraph 13 (a) (vii) and (b) of the Third – Schedule thereof, the purported concurrence by the 6th Defendant with the decision/resolution of the 4th Defendant purportedly removing the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal taken at 4tj Defendant’s plenary of the 20th November 2024 or any other date for that matter which said concurrence was taken at the 6th Defendant’s Plenary of 26th November 2024 is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect whatsoever same having been founded on a faulty legal foundation and in breach/violation of section 22 (3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal Act and paragraph 17 (3) of the 5® Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“A DECLARATION that by virtue of the provisions of Paragraph 17 (1) of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 20 (1) and (4) of the Code of Conduct Bureau & Tribunal Act and the subsistence of the occupation of the office of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal by Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, the purported appointment and subsequent confirmation of the 10th or 11th Defendants into the same office by the 1st and 4th Defendants, respectively, is illegal, void, unconstitutional and of no effect same having been done in clear breach of the applicable provisions of the 1999 Constitution (Supra) and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (Supra).
“A DECLARATION that the purported removal of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in the person of Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar as done by the 4’th Defendant based on the motion and submission founded by distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele during its plenary of 20th November 2024 and the subsequent concurrence by the 6th Defendant on 26th November, 2024 at its plenary has occasioned/amounted to a breach of Section 36(1) and Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as the allegations of misconduct among others which formed the basis of the resolution/decision in issue has not been proved/established in the manner prescribed by law.
“AN ORDER restraining the 7th Defendant from communicating the resolution’ of the 4th and 6th Defendants removing the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in person of Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar to the 1st Defendant the removal having been done without following the due process of law.
“AN ORDER restraining the 8th and 9th Defendants from considering any person including the 10th or 11th Defendant for appointment by the 1st Defendant and subsequent confirmation by the 4th and 6th Defendants during, the subsistence of term of office of Hon. Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar.”
Meanwhile Justice James Omotosho, who is to adjudicate in the matter, has ordered that the process in respect be served by substituted means through pasting at the notice board of the court, the APC secretariat and Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The court further adjourned the suit to January 14, 2025, for hearing.
By Our Correspondent.
Leading fintech company, OPay Digital Services, has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media publication claiming that the company would embark on a prolonged break from September 1, 2026, urging its customers to withdraw or move their funds.
The fabricated publication, which gained traction across social media platforms on Sunday, purportedly warned OPay customers that the fintech would shut down its operations for an extended period beginning September 1.
However, OPay, in an official response published across its verified social media platforms, described the claim as false, assuring customers that the company remains fully operational.
In a statement titled, “This is FALSE!”, the fintech said: “OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere! 💚”
The company further urged its customers and members of the public to scrutinise the viral publication for inconsistencies and rely only on its verified communication channels for authentic information.
“True OPay users know how to identify our official communications. Take a closer look at the viral post and you’ll spot the red flags.
“Always verify before you share. Filter the noise! Follow our official pages for authentic OPay updates,” the company stated, ending the message with the hashtag, #OPayIsOkay.
Also reacting to the development, the Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, OPay Digital Services, Dr. Maxwell Loko, described the viral publication as “false, malicious and misleading.”
Loko said OPay was not shutting down and cautioned customers against taking any action based on the fabricated information.
“This post is false, malicious and misleading. OPay is not shutting down, and customers should not be misled into withdrawing their funds based on fabricated information,” he said.
He urged members of the public to disregard the publication and depend exclusively on OPay’s verified platforms for official announcements.
“We urge the public to disregard this post and rely only on OPay’s verified communication channels for official information,” Loko added.
The OPay executive further warned that deliberate attempts to spread false information capable of creating panic or undermining confidence in a financial institution could attract legal consequences.
“The deliberate spread of false information designed to cause panic or undermine confidence in a financial institution is a serious matter and may have legal consequences,” he said.
The development has also raised concerns over the growing use of fabricated digital content to damage the reputation of financial technology companies and potentially trigger unnecessary panic among customers.
While speculation has circulated in some quarters that the publication could be linked to competitive interests seeking to undermine OPay’s growing market position, no evidence has been publicly established to substantiate such claims.
OPay therefore advised its customers to exercise caution and verify financial or operational announcements through its authenticated communication channels before acting on them.
The company’s clarification effectively puts to rest the viral claim that it would cease or suspend operations from September 1, 2026, with OPay reaffirming that its services remain available to customers.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 70-year-old man, Usman Abubakar, over the alleged defilement of an eight-year-old girl in the Tsakanin Bayara area of Bauchi metropolis.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police (SP) Nafiu Habib, the suspect was arrested following a complaint lodged at the ‘E’ Division, Yelwa, by the victim’s 48-year-old father on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
According to the police, the father alleged that the suspect, who resides in the same area, lured his daughter to an uncompleted building on Sunday, August 24, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The Command said its operatives immediately commenced action after receiving the report and arrested the suspect.
The police further stated that the suspect allegedly confessed to the offence during interrogation.
Following the incident, the victim was taken to the Police Clinic for medical examination and necessary care.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the alleged offence and assured members of the public that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Bauchi, for discreet investigation and prosecution, according to the Command.
The police reiterated their zero tolerance for sexual violence and child abuse, while urging parents, guardians and members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed sympathy with traders and business owners affected by the fire that gutted Eda Plaza in Jabi, Abuja, on Sunday.
Obi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, said the incident highlighted the need to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency-response systems, particularly the capacity of fire services.
A fire outbreak destroyed shops and goods reportedly worth millions of naira at the plaza, a building materials market opposite Chida Hotel in Jabi.
An eyewitness told the Nigerian Television Authority that the alarm was raised around 3am after a trader received a distress call about the fire.
The eyewitness said the fire destroyed one of his brother-in-law’s two shops and a packing store, with roofing materials worth more than N20m reportedly lost in the blaze.
There were no reported casualties.
Reacting to the incident, Obi said his “heart goes out to the traders, artisans, workers, families and business owners whose goods, investments and livelihoods may have been affected by this unfortunate incident.”
He noted that the losses suffered by the traders represented more than merchandise, noting that they included years of savings, borrowing and sacrifice.
“As a country, we cannot continue to lose businesses and livelihoods repeatedly to preventable disasters. Each time this happens, we gradually lose our productive capacity,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said small businesses were “the backbone of our economy” and that losses suffered by traders could affect their families, workers and communities.
Obi urged authorities to strengthen emergency-response systems, particularly by ensuring that fire services were properly equipped and adequately staffed.
“As we grieve what has happened at Jabi Market, let us not wait for another market to burn before we act. Let this tragedy become a reason to strengthen our emergency-response systems, especially by ensuring that our fire service is properly equipped, adequately staffed and capable of responding swiftly to emergencies.”
“We must protect our small businesses and ensure that Abuja, and indeed Nigeria, becomes a safer place to live, work and invest,” he added.
Obi also prayed for those affected by the incident and emergency responders.
“May God comfort every person affected by this disaster, restore the livelihoods that have been lost, and grant our emergency responders the strength and wisdom required at this difficult moment,” he said.
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