Court Case Filed To Contest Removal Of Code Of Conduct Tribunal Chairman

President Bola Tinubu, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio are facing a lawsuit in the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning the alleged unlawful dismissal of Justice Danladi Umar as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT)…READ MORE…

The lawsuit was filed by two civil society groups—the Community Rescue Initiative and the Toro Concerned Citizens Relief Foundation—along with Abuja-based lawyer Comrade Nasir Bala.

The plaintiffs are seeking to prevent the Clerk of the National Assembly from forwarding the Senate and House of Representatives’ resolution to remove Umar to President Tinubu. They also want the court to bar the President from acting on this resolution, claiming it violates provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Filed under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1796/2024, the suit was submitted by legal representatives Mahmoud M. Maidoki Esq., A.G. Salisu Esq., Jibrin S. Jibrin Baq., and Abubakar S. Idris Bag.

In challenging the National Assembly’s actions, the plaintiffs are requesting the Federal High Court to clarify the legality of Umar’s removal. Specifically, they argue:

• Whether the removal of the CCT chairman by the 4th Defendant (the National Assembly) is unconstitutional and void based on provisions concerning judicial appointments and tenure.
• Whether the Senate’s concurrence on the removal is similarly unlawful, given its procedural foundation.
• Whether any new appointments to the position during Umar’s continued tenure are invalid.

If the court finds in favor of the plaintiffs, they are asking for declarations confirming the illegality of both the removal process and any subsequent appointments made to replace Umar. They also seek an order restraining communication of the removal resolution and barring consideration of other candidates for the position while Umar’s term is still active.

Justice James Omotosho, assigned to the case, has mandated that legal notifications be publicly posted at the court, the APC secretariat, and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The hearing has been adjourned until January 14, 2025.

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