Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has ordered the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, to appear before it on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 2pm.
The directive was given to the tribunal judge on Monday shortly after he announced that the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the CCT would be a daily affair and from 9am to 6pm until it is concluded, a move the Senate apparently is not happy about.
Ostensibly in a counter move to fight back and frustrate Saraki’s trial, the Senate revisited a petition before it concerning allegations of corruption against the judge.
A letter signed on Monday by the Clerk of the Committee, Freedom Odolo, read, “Your letter with reference number CCT/HQ/ 126/S/ 111/ 515 dated 1st April, 2016 in which you requested for more time to enable you attend the hearing was received.
“After due consideration of your request, the Committee rescheduled the hearing to give you at least two weeks from the 4th of April when you should have appeared.
“Accordingly, you are now required to appear unfailingly as follows: Thursday, 21st April, 2016, Meeting Room 120 New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex. Time: 2pm.
“Please, remember to come personally along with 12 copies of any written submission you may wish to present.”
But it seems the Senate and Justice Danladi may be set for a showdown as the CCT Chairman has told the lawmakers that he will not be available to honour the invitation because he has a court sitting on that day and throughout the week.
