The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has revisited assault claim brought against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar.
In an interview with reporters on the subject on Wednesday in Abuja, the chairman of the Senate panel, Ayo Akinyelure, reportedly stated that the case against Umar had been revived, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
In a widely circulated video, the CCT Chairman is shown allegedly hitting a man named Clement Sargwak on March 29, 2021, in the Bannex Plaza in Wuse 2.
Through Umar’s attorneys, the victim petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition to conduct an investigation in order to seek reparation.
“The Senate believes that nobody is above the law. Both the young and the old voted for us to represent their interest in the National Assembly,” Akinyelure said.
”The CCT Chairman infringed on the right of a young Nigerian who had no money to approach the Court, brought his petition to the Senate.
“Rather than appearing before our Committee, Umar went to Court claiming that the Senate had no right to put him on trial.
“The Senate suspended the hearing on the matter till the outcome of the judgment. The High Court has now ruled the Senate has the right to continue the case.
“The Senate decided to reopen the case because it was a declarative judgment. He was to appear before us today but instead, came with court papers claiming that he had appealed the judgment.
“He has now told us through his lawyer that he will never appear before the Senate Committee because the matter is already before the Court of Appeal.
The Senate committee further stated that CCT Chairman’s attempt to suppress the case because of his position, will not be allowed.
“Instead of apologising to the victim and his family, and possibly settle the bills of their lawyers, he believes that he could use his position to suppress justice. We will never allow it.”
