CCT Chairman Danladi Umar, to Appear Before the Senate Within Two Weeks

By: Janet Samuel

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has given the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, two weeks to appear before the Committee on a petition against him being investigated by the Senate.

Umar was accused by a security guard, Clement Sagwak, of assault through his counsel, Timzing Ramnap in a petition to the Senate.

Senator representing Plateau North, Istifanus Gyang, had laid the petition before the Senate on April 29, 2021.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, said the committee resolved to give Mr. Umar two weeks to get well from his sick bed.

Senator Akinyelure noted that the Senate is no longer interested in his sick excuses, warning him to present himself before further legal action.

“This is his last warning before the warrant of arrest is issued against him haven’t failed to appear before the senate for the third time”

The Senate also said the letter written by the petitioner should be disregarded as the issues requesting that the case should be withdrawn from court is unconstitutional as he cannot use court process to stop the work of the senate.

He is expected to appear before the committee again on Tuesday, June 27, 2021.

He said even though the Senate would proceed on a break on Thursday, the committee is prepared to reconvene during the break to hear Umar’s defense.

At the session on Tuesday, Umar’ lawyer, Toluwa Odekhe told the committee that the matter was in court and had two originating summons to that effect.

“I must respectfully on behalf of my client, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, inform you that the matter scheduled for discuss here is already in court and any move to continue any form of proceedings on it is subjudice.”

Responding, the committee chairman senator Akinyelure said his action was a clear ambush which would not work as no arm of government could stop another arm from doing its constitutionally mandated work.

“This committee will not be cowed by the purported originating summons because none of the parties went to court before it started its investigation on petition bordering on assaults

“Therefore, Danladi Umar, wherever you are on your sick bed , you must appear before this committee in two weeks time unfailingly to avoid invocation of section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution which borders on warrant of arrest.”

A member of the committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, accused Umar lawyer of taking a wrong step.

Recall that Sagwak, 22, and an employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited, told the Senate in his petition that he was attacked by Umar.

He said he was assaulted by Umar and a policeman attached to him after he informed him (Umar) that his car was not properly parked.

He said the CCT boss slapped him several times and forced him to kneel down in the presence of everybody while undergoing his lawful activities.

A viral five minute video had captured Umar and the guard having an altercation at the Banex Plaza, in Abuja.

Umar had in a statement denied the allegation and claimed that contrary to the content of a circulated video, he was a victim of an assault by the people.

WAR AGAINST INSECURITY: NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS NABBED BY SECURITY OPERATIVE IN KOGI

On the heels of recent devastation and arrests of criminals in different parts of the state, another group of notorious criminals was nabbed on Friday in Olamaboro Local Government area of the state by the combined efforts of the neighborhood watch & the Vigilante group of the local government.

In what seems to be a total War against insecurity in the state, security operatives all across the state have continued to sniff out criminal elements from their hideouts with records of deaths and arrests.

The operation which was coordinated by the executive chairman of Olamaboro Local government council Hon. Adejoh Friday Nicodemus witnessed an end to the group of criminals terrorizing the peace of the good people of Olamaboro Local government area.

According to reports received, one of the suspect identified as Lawal Isa aka Osama from ofugo okpo in the said locality was killed during a gun battle with the operatives while others were nabbed and handed over to respective authorities.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammed Onogwu while responding to the press on the incidence noted that the elected Executive chairmen of the 21 Local Government Area had a mandate to secure and protect the lives of the citizens in their areas.

He opined that the results they were recording was largely owned to the morale boost and support the Governor has continued to give as well as the co operation from the citizens and synergy between the security operatives.

The CPS noted that Government at all levels would continue to make efforts towards sustaining the drive for a peaceful Kogi state by making every nooks and crannies of the state unsafe for criminal elements and their sponsors.

AGAIN, VIGILANTE OVERPOWERS NOTORIOUS KIDNAP GANG, KILLS THREE IN GUN DUEL IN KOGI

A vicious kidnapping gang which operates along the Niger and Kogi environment especially within the enclave of the Ottoyi Forest have again been over powered and its members apprehended by a highly motivated Kogi Local Vigilante.

Three of the kidnappers were killed during gun duel between the gallant vigilantes and the criminal elements.

The incident which occurred Wednesday afternoon as narrated by one of the vigilantes involved in the operation.

He revealed that the vigilante accosted one of the gang member who came to buy food stuff and in the process promised to lead the operatives to their hide outs.

It was however gathered that rather than leading the operatives to his cohorts, the gang laid ambush on the vigilante but they were unfortunately overpowered by the vigilantes.

Speaking on feat, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Muhammed Onogwu noted that the state’s security architectures have continued to stand the test of time and have recorded successes against several intricacies by criminal elements.

He noted that the continued efforts of the Kogi State Government to keep the momentum as the safest state in the country was so far yielding good results, noting that the governor has severally made commitment to securing the lives and property of the citizens as well as make the state a no go zone for criminal elements.

Onogwu attributed the successes in the fight against criminalities as product of collaborations and synergy among all the security operatives as well as those who are most concerned with the rural areas whom he said the administration has largely empowered and motivated.

The governor’s media aide asserted that Bello would not relent efforts in ensuring that the security operatives at all level were adequately empowered to facilitate a safe Kogi state and the delivery of his administration’s social economic strides for the masses.