JUST IN: House Votes to Remove CCT Chairman but Falls Short of Constitutional Requirements

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of removing Umar Danladi, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). However, the decision failed to meet the constitutional requirements for such an action, raising questions about the motion’s validity.

The motion, initiated by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), cited Section 17(3) of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. This section stipulates that the removal of the CCT Chairman can only occur upon an address supported by a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the National Assembly, specifically citing incapacity, misconduct, or violations of the code of conduct.

For the House of Representatives, this two-thirds threshold translates to 240 members, including the presiding officer. Yet, a headcount by SK Blog before the vote revealed only 92 members present, far short of the required number. Despite this glaring shortfall, the motion was carried.

This development follows a similar move by the Senate last week, where 84 senators supported a motion for Mr. Danladi’s removal, led by Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. However, the Senate’s resolution also fell into controversy, as it was based on Section 157(2) of the Constitution—a provision unrelated to the CCT Chairman’s removal process.

Observers have criticized both chambers for procedural oversights, emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to constitutional guidelines in legislative decisions.

More to follow……