By Francesca Hangeior

The Senate has invoked the provisions of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and sacked Yakubu Danladi Umar as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT for what it described as unacceptable acts of misconduct.

According to the Senate, it became imperative to remove him from that sensitive position because his actions were unbecoming of a holder of such an office and his level of gross misconduct no longer acceptable.

The sack of Umar as Chairman of CCT was sequel to two third of Senators as 74 members signed, 10 senators present, totally 84 Senators.

The Senate had at 1.17pm gone into a closed door session on the matter that was listed as the first motion in the order paper and soon after the came out of the closed door session at 2,36pm, the Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North moved that the action can be carried out in line with Section 157 (1) of the Constitution.

The motion to sack Umar as CCT Chairman was moved in the Order Paper  by the  Senate Leader,  Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti  Central. 

It was titled, “Invocation of the provision of Section 157 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended for the removal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”

According to Bamidele, ‘The Senate: Notes that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is one of the key components of Federal Institutions in the country, saddled with the sacred statutory responsibilities of maintaining high standard of morality in the conduct of government business and to ensure that the actions and behaviours of public officers conform to the highest standards of public morality and accountability;

“Also notes that a statutory institution of such magnitude is expected to be an epitome of moral rectitude and should be seen to uphold the virtues of integrity, probity and accountability.  However, the conduct of Mr. Yakubu Danladi Umar, who is the Chairman of the Tribunal has fallen short of the requisite standard of a public officer to conduct the affairs of such Tribunal;

“Concerned that the Senate has been inundated with series of petitions and allegations of corruption/misconduct against the Chairman, a situation that necessitated the 9th Senate, through the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to invite him to series of its investigative hearings in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding those allegations. 

However, he appeared before the Committee only once and thereafter avoided subsequent invitations;

“Also concerned about his alleged absenteeism from office for more than one month, without permission and recuse to his position, coupled with preponderance of corruption allegation, misappropriation, and physical street brawl with a security man in the FCT vis-à-vis his current investigation by the EFCC, ICPC and the DSS.  All these are tantamount to acts of negligence and gross misconduct, unbecoming of a Chairman of such a reputable Tribunal;

“Aware of the series of overwhelming allegations against the Chairman, Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, forwarded the name of Mr. Abdullahi Usman Bello to the Senate for confirmation as the new Chairman of the Tribunal, and at the Plenary Sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 4th July, 2024, his appointment was duly confirmed, hence the need for the erstwhile Chairman to vacate the office for the substantive Chairman to officially resume office.”

President Bola Tinubu Wednesday, approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and the Registrar, Rosemary Ifoema Nwokik.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Abuja.

He noted that the Council, led by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, included five other members – Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (rtd).

He said the sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified Vice-Chancellor without following due process.

“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the 23-year-old institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, he said.

Onanuga also announced that President Tinubu approved the removal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami as the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.

He said the decision followed Salami’s illegal actions, including suspending the Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures.

He stated that despite the Federal Ministry of Education’s call for the unlawful suspension to be revoked, Salami refused to comply.

“Instead, he resorted to abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Ministry’s Directors, including the Permanent Secretary.

“The Federal Government reiterated that the primary responsibility of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of university activities in accordance with the act establishing each university”, Onanuga stated.

He quoted Tinubu as warning the Councils not to create distractions in their universities, stating that his government is focused on improving the country’s education standards.

An accident has claimed the lives of a middle-aged woman and her two children after the bus they were traveling in caught fire near Manderegi village, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

The incident, which occurred on an 18-seater commuter bus with registration number BGT 996 LG, left 12 other passengers with severe burns.

The bus was reportedly en route to Kogi State when it suddenly burst into flames.

Eyewitnesses reported that the victims were trapped inside the vehicle and burnt beyond recognition.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) later evacuated the remains of the deceased and transported the injured to a hospital in Abaji for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Muta’ah Chorrie, attributed the tragedy to the driver’s negligence.

According to Chorrie, the driver had stored a jerrican filled with fuel in the bus alongside passengers, which likely contributed to the fire.

He said, “Let me tell you, this is what we have been saying that there is danger in carrying extra fuel with passengers while traveling. We have been sensitizing motorists on this but some defiant drivers still carry them.’’