A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, to submit himself before the Senate Probe Committee investigating his 2019 assault on a security guard in a popular shopping centre.
Umar had sought to use the court to stop the investigation, but Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday described the attempt as unconstitutional.
It was the moment the chairman of a constitutional body created to regulate the conduct of public officers threw caution to the wind and engaged in what appeared to be a physical attack on a security man at a popular shopping mall in Abuja, over a parking space misunderstanding on March 29, 2019
The then 22 years old victim, Clement Sargwak, through his lawyers had petitioned the senate.
Umar was later summoned by the Senate Committee On Ethics, Privileges And Public Petitions, where he denied all the allegations, claiming he was the one attacked.
After making the initial appearance, Umar rushed to court to obtain an order, stopping the panel’s probe.
He asked the court to determine whether the allegation of assault falls under the constitutional competence of the senate to investigate.
But Justice Inyang Ekwo, on Tuesday, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
Relying on Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the judge held that as a public officer administering a law relating to the conduct of public officers, he is bound to be accountable, where public petitions on moral issues arise.
Justice Ekwo, further held that the office which Umar occupies, exposes him to an investigation by the national assembly, more than any other Nigerian, and it will be illogical for Umar to challenge the senate probe, giving the impression that he is above the law.
All the declarative reliefs and injunctive reliefs sought by Umar
against the Senate were declined.
In conclusion, the court ordered the embattled CCT Chairman, to submit himself for investigation by the senate committee.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
