Prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Femi
Falana, has said that the Senate lacks
the power to summon Danladi
Umar, the Chairman of the Code
of Conduct Tribunal, to testify in
respect of a criminal
investigation.
In a statement Tuesday,
Falana advised the Senate to
withdraw the “illegal summon”
which had been issued and served
on Umar.
The Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges, and Public Petitions
had on Monday summoned
Umar to appear before it on
Thursday to answer questions on
allegations of bribery against him.
Umar is presiding over the
corruption trial of Bukola Saraki,
the Senate president, who is
facing a 13-count charge bordering on false asset declaration and fraudulent practice.
The summons came hours after
the CCT judge had ruled that
Saraki’s trial would sit daily
between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a
one hour break in between, till
the end of the trial.
Falana
however stated that the allegation involving
Umar was already a pending
criminal case before the court.
“Following the allegation that the
Personal Assistant of the Tribunal
Chairman allegedly received a
bribe from a suspect on behalf of
his master, the matter was
investigated by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission,”
Falana said.
“At the end of the investigation
the Tribunal Chairman was
exonerated while his Personal
Assistant was indicted.
“Consequently, the suspect has since been
charged to court. Since the case has not been
concluded or terminated it is the height of
contempt on the part of the Senate or any of
its Committees to decide to conduct another
trial on the same subject matter.”
In July 2015, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission arraigned
Umar’s
personal assistant, Ali Gambo, before an FCT
High Court on charges of conspiracy, bribery,
and abuse of office.
Gambo’s arrest and subsequent
arraignment followed a petition that he
received N1.8 million bribe on behalf of Mr.
Umar, ostensibly to quash a case before the
CCT.
Falana said the Senate lacked the power to
investigate allegations of corrupt practices and
other criminal offences.
“Instead of exposing the Nigerian people to
further undeserved embarrassment over the
Saraki case the Senate is enjoined to enhance
the fight against corruption by passing the
Whistle Blowers Bill, the Proceeds of Crime
Bill and the Witness Protection Bill which were
passed by the 7th National Assembly but were
not signed into law by former President
Goodluck Jonathan,” said Mr. Falana.
“For the Nigerian people to take the war
against corruption seriously the members of
the legislative and executive arms of
Government ought to be prepared to
demonstrate leadership by example.
“In a country where the majority of the states
are owing arrears of salaries the legislators
should be prepared to make sacrifice by
reducing their fat salaries and jumbo
allowances,” he added.
Falana, has said that the Senate lacks
the power to summon Danladi
Umar, the Chairman of the Code
of Conduct Tribunal, to testify in
respect of a criminal
investigation.
In a statement Tuesday,
Falana advised the Senate to
withdraw the “illegal summon”
which had been issued and served
on Umar.
The Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges, and Public Petitions
had on Monday summoned
Umar to appear before it on
Thursday to answer questions on
allegations of bribery against him.
Umar is presiding over the
corruption trial of Bukola Saraki,
the Senate president, who is
facing a 13-count charge bordering on false asset declaration and fraudulent practice.
The summons came hours after
the CCT judge had ruled that
Saraki’s trial would sit daily
between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., with a
one hour break in between, till
the end of the trial.
Falana
however stated that the allegation involving
Umar was already a pending
criminal case before the court.
“Following the allegation that the
Personal Assistant of the Tribunal
Chairman allegedly received a
bribe from a suspect on behalf of
his master, the matter was
investigated by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission,”
Falana said.
“At the end of the investigation
the Tribunal Chairman was
exonerated while his Personal
Assistant was indicted.
“Consequently, the suspect has since been
charged to court. Since the case has not been
concluded or terminated it is the height of
contempt on the part of the Senate or any of
its Committees to decide to conduct another
trial on the same subject matter.”
In July 2015, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission arraigned
Umar’s
personal assistant, Ali Gambo, before an FCT
High Court on charges of conspiracy, bribery,
and abuse of office.
Gambo’s arrest and subsequent
arraignment followed a petition that he
received N1.8 million bribe on behalf of Mr.
Umar, ostensibly to quash a case before the
CCT.
Falana said the Senate lacked the power to
investigate allegations of corrupt practices and
other criminal offences.
“Instead of exposing the Nigerian people to
further undeserved embarrassment over the
Saraki case the Senate is enjoined to enhance
the fight against corruption by passing the
Whistle Blowers Bill, the Proceeds of Crime
Bill and the Witness Protection Bill which were
passed by the 7th National Assembly but were
not signed into law by former President
Goodluck Jonathan,” said Mr. Falana.
“For the Nigerian people to take the war
against corruption seriously the members of
the legislative and executive arms of
Government ought to be prepared to
demonstrate leadership by example.
“In a country where the majority of the states
are owing arrears of salaries the legislators
should be prepared to make sacrifice by
reducing their fat salaries and jumbo
allowances,” he added.
