A Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to issue an order restraining President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other officials from using the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to prevent Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), from performing his official duties.
The ex-parte application, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1796/2024, requests the court to prevent the police, DSS, and other bodies taking instructions from the President from inviting, intimidating, or investigating CCT officials, including Justice Umar, pending the determination of the suit.
The suit was brought by the Community Rescue Initiative, Toro Concerned Citizens & Relief Foundation, and lawyer Barrister Nasiru Bala, who are challenging the legality of efforts to remove Justice Umar without due process.
The defendants named in the suit include the President of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the National Assembly, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), and other officials.
In the ex-parte application, the plaintiffs seek an interim injunction to prevent the NJC and FJSC from swearing in Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo as the new CCT Chairman while the case is pending.
They also request that Kogo be barred from acting as CCT chairman or interfering with the tribunal’s operations, including those of Justice Umar, until the motion is decided.
Additionally, the plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent the defendants from recognizing or engaging with Kogo as the CCT Chairman during the course of the suit.
The plaintiffs argue that the case revolves around the unlawful removal of Justice Umar from office.
They claim that despite Justice Umar being the legitimate chairman, the defendants are attempting to replace him with Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo, who is reportedly obstructing the tribunal’s operations.
The plaintiffs also seek declaratory reliefs to determine whether Justice Umar’s removal was illegal and unconstitutional under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The suit further seeks orders to stop the Clerk of the National Assembly from transmitting the purported Senate and House resolutions to the President and preventing the President from acting on these resolutions, claiming that due process was not followed in the attempt to remove Justice Umar.
