Group accuses CCT chairman Umar of bribery, asks court to sack him

macfranc007 February 20, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 David Oladele

- An Abuja-based non-governmental organisation has filed a suit seeking the removal of the chairman of the code of conduct tribunal Danladi Umar

- The group filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja through its lawyer Okere Nnamdi

- It noted that Umar has put himself in a situation where his personal interest conflicts with his official duties, and should immediately vacate the office

An Abuja-based non-governmental organisation, kingdom human rights foundation international has asked Federal High Court in Abuja through its lawyer Okere Nnamdi to remove chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Danladi Umar.

The organisation on Friday, February 16, made this request following the bribery charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had on February 2, through a private lawyer, Festus Keyamo (SAN), filed bribery charges against the CCT chairman before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The NGO prayed the court to declare that having been charged with bribery offences, Umar ''has put himself in a situation where his personal interest conflicts with his official duties, and should immediately vacate the office and cease to act as the chairman of the tribunal.''

It prayed the court to remove Umar from office, as the CCT which he leads, ''was established to enforce the code of conduct for public officers and preside over cases of those accused and charged with failing to maintain a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business and for having failed to conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability.''

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It sought an order, ''directing/compelling the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar, who has put himself in a situation where his personal interest conflicts with his official duty to immediately vacate the office and cease to act as the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal having been accused and charged to court in charge number CR/109/18 at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the court sacked the chairman of the code of conduct bureau Sam Saba and nine other members of the organisation’s board.

The presiding judge ruled on Friday, April 28 that the board’s tenure of five years had expired two years ago in April 2015.

Justice Nyako held that by virtue of section 155 (1) (c) and Paragraph 1, Part 1, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Saba and others, all of whom were appointed in 2010, were only entitled to stay in office for five years.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on NAIJ.com TV: