The Senate has granted the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal(CCT), Danladi Umar two weeks to study the details of petition as well as written and video evidence of allegation of assault brought against him by Abuja based lawyer, Timzng Ramnap, on behalf of his client, Clement Sargwak, a security guard at Banex Plaza.
The Senate through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition led by Senator Ayo Akinyelure reached the decision after the CCT Chairman, pleaded on the grounds of fair hearing that he should be given sufficient time to study the petition as well as the statement of claims by the petitioner with evidence to enable him build a proper defense for himself.
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Umar told the Senate panel that he was not served with the details; stressing that all he has was just the invitation letter with a scanty petition which he said was grossly inadequate for him to defend himself.
While Senator Opeyemi Bamidele( APC, Ekiti Central) and Senator James Manager(PDP, Delta South) argued that the request of the CCT Chairman was in order; Senator Obinna Ogba (PDP, Ebonyi) believed he was not in the position to alter the hearing procedures of the Senate panel.
Asked what time will be sufficient for him, the tribunal judge said he should be given one week.
Senator Albert Bassey( PDP, Akwa Ibom Northeast) doesn’t however think it is in the position of Umar to dictate to the Senate panel.
The Senate panel subsequently granted Umar’s request and even extended it with an extra one week.
This was after he(Umar) had been served the details of the petition, evidence put forward by the Petitioner by the Clerk of the Senate Committee.
Earlier, the Lead Counsel, for the Petitioner, Dashe G. Daniel had told the Senate Panel that Danladi Umar brutally assaulted his client 4 times and at various times during the incident instructed one of his aides to attack his client.
He said the CCT Chairman breached his oath of office and the constitution by attacking a defenseless citizen.
The lawyer presented video and still photograph evidence of Umar which he said has gone viral since the incident on the 30th of March, 2021.
The Counsel also requested the Senate to ensure that his client and indeed anyone else involved in the matter is not harassed and intimidated by the Police or the Department of State Service.
The Senate Panel granted the prayers fixing its next sitting to Tuesday, 18th May 2021.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
